SSC Film Studies

In what ways can War Of the Worlds be considered post 9/11?

The 2005 film version of the HG Welles novel "The War of the Worlds" can be considered post 9/11 because it is very allegorical and visually reminiscent of the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre. This is very clear when the first tripod attack happens, the reaction to the Tripod attack is for the people (including the protagonist Ray), to run as far away from it as possible. This shot which shows all of the people fleeing from the hear ray of the Tripods is visually reminiscent of the reaction of the planes hitting the World Trade Centre. The dust clouds in the film created by the disintegrated victims of the heat ray running with Ray are also visually reminiscent of 9/11 as there were giant dust clouds from the wreckage of the WTC which consumed all that it touches. As this scene progresses, Ray accidentally walks through one of the human created dust clouds and gets covered in the substance. People caught in the dust clouds of 9/11 looked almost identical to Ray in the way the were covered from head to toe in the grey dust.

The Aliens in the film are very allegorical of the terrorists who caused 9/11. This is most prominent in the reactions to the aliens. They are never given a unique identity, they are only ever referred to as "them" or "they", this was the way the 9/11 terrorists were described in the immediate aftermath of the attack. They were de-humanised, and stripped on any real identity, they, just like the Aliens in the film, are a faceless, nameless terror. It is this fear of the unknown which is a key theme throughout the film.

Another way in which the Aliens are allegorical of the 9/11 terrorists is their means of attacking. The terrorists used planes to decimate the WTC, the Aliens use the Tripods. The similarity between the two is how formidable weapons they are. Although in reality a plane is not invincible and is certainly not immune to explosives, but it is that feeling of powerlessness that makes them similar. The reactions of the common people to both would be similar, because there is no way in which they can stop either. Both would instil terror into someone if they saw one of the above hurdling towards them.

The way in which the Aliens attacked is also allegorical. In the film, the Aliens attack from within American Culture, it isn't a nuke, or a missile sent from a different country. The people can see what is destroying their county. This is exactly what happened on 9/11, the terrorists were essentially sleeper cells, which meant they were integrated into American society before the attack, this attack from within makes the attacks all that more terrifying because the enemy is within sight of you, and you still feel powerless regardless. Both the Aliens and the terrorists shared a common goal, total annihilation of the US. They also both look, sound and practise different ideologies. Again this is fear of the unknown and also the fear of annihilation, both things, the western world are terrified of.