Threads

Jesus Christ. This film is horrific. It is the single most harrowing depiction of war that I’ve seen so far in film. Just thinking about that last half of the film is making me uncomfortable and depressed now. The film definitely accomplished what it set out to, searing the truth and consequences of nuclear war into your mind. Nevertheless, this is an extremely well-made film. The documentary filmmaking style with narration used for most of the film is brilliant, as it adds so much to the realism of this film. All technical aspects in the film are perfectly executed as well. Sound design, characters/performances, cinematography, lighting; everything is perfect. Showing how a global conflict starts, develops, and then causes turmoil in all areas of (urban) life is expertly developed and portrayed over the course of the entire film. The slow build up to the bombs is grueling and the movie pulls no punches in the foreshadowing of what’s going to come. Then, the bomb falls. People are panicking, crying, peeing themselves, and some are just standing in awe/disbelief of the spectacle. It’s truly terrifying. Following this, the film takes a dark turn into the area of which it is known for; the reality of nuclear warfare. Buildings, roads, cars, bottles, toys, adults, and children; nothing is spared. Everything is engulfed entirely by flames and melts in an instant. The absolute destruction depicted in the bomb-dropping sequence, and continuously throughout the rest of the film, is enough to repulse any sane person. This film is just so disturbing and depressing. The depictions of war and its effects are abhorrent and this is one that I won’t be rewatching any time soon. However, this is a perfect depiction of war and I love how it avoids falling into the common glamorous ideation of war that other war films fall victim to. Overall, this is a perfect film but I doubt I’ll rewatch it in the near future, if at all.