How far do the American films you have studied convey key themes in similar ways?

Introduction

Both films I have studied carry themes and ideologies that go along with a certain period of time/event, like: 9/11 (which brought along post 9/11 cinema) and The Red Scare.

“Post 9/11 cinema” is defined as the change in film/movies after the world trade centre was destroyed in America. This changed cinema quite a bit as the plots and themes moved over to destroying terrorist threats and being heroic. In this time, films/movies also centred on a few main themes: Paranoia, Fear of Others and Fear of Annihilation, which reflected the feelings of society at that time that also led to the use of terrorist villains and all American plots. Some films, however, went for these themes metaphorically like “War of the Worlds” that used Martians instead of actual terrorists to get across the fear of others. “Post 9/11 cinema” isn't the only time we have seen these themes in society/film, these were also present around the Red Scare within McCarthyism when people were paranoid about Communism.

Communism is a socioeconomic system structured upon the common ownership of the means of production and characterized by the absence of social classes, money, and the state; as well as a social, political and economic ideology and movement that aims to establish this social order. America was paranoid about Communist invasion and assimilation that Joseph McCarthy took advantage of to gain political power and created McCarthyism. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism.” McCarthyism was the main ideology of America at that time and this caused may people to lose their homes, families and jobs. It wasn't really explored in films in fear of blacklisting until “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, though the director and such describe it as just a simple thriller, it can be used as a metaphor for McCarthyism being an alien ideology that changes you completely however there is a counter argument that “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is about Communism taking over peoples minds and ideologies.

Despite this, both “War of the Worlds” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” revolve around the similar main themes, like: Paranoia, Fear of others, fear of annihilation, etc.​

War of the Worlds

After the first Martian attack Rachael asks, "Is it the terrorists?" This is a direct reference to the threat of Islamic terror that is a key element of Post 9/11 society. The characters in War of the World's live in a world that experienced 9/11 and Rachael asking the question indicates a heightened level of paranoia existing as a result. This link to post 9/11 society is clear and it represents the increased sense of fear and paranoia that was felt immediately after the September 11th attacks. Fear of follow up attacks was rife in the aftermath and this scene creates a strong link between the film and post 9/11 society.

On the way to Boston, Ray and Rachael stay sheltered against a Martian attack with Harlan Ogilvy, who turns out to be a dangerous and paranoid basement dweller, itching to begin an underground war of resistance against the aliens. Ogilvy is so determined to attack an alien probe that is searching the basement that he imperils Ray and Rachael’s lives. His paranoia and aggression are so great that Ray ultimately has to beat him to death. This represents the increased sense of fear of others and paranoia that was felt immediately after the September 11th attacks, people wanted to fight back against the unknown. Fear of follow up attacks was rife in the aftermath and this scene creates a strong link between the film and post 9/11 society.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Despite Miles telling the truth while he says "They're not human! They're already here! You're next!", by society he is seen as insane and paranoid. This links back to the beginning of the film where we thought the same, but as we have seen the story we know that he is not paranoid. At this part, he points at the camera when he says, “You’re next!” Since this film is greatly linked to McCarthyism, this could be taken as Miles warning the viewer of McCarthyism and that they’ll become infected with McCarthy’s ideologies if they don’t do something about it.

In the beginning of the film, Miles sees a number of patients who believe their loved ones have been replaced by impostors. this highlights the fear of others and the fear of communism that was felt at the time as many people feared that communist had entered their lives or assimilated their loved ones.
 

Comparisons

The main themes of the 'villains' in these films are quite contrasting as the aliens of War of the worlds want to exterminate the humans, the pods of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and to annihilate and assimilate the human race. While annihilation is defined as "total destruction" or "complete obliteration", Extermination/exterminate may refer to:

• Pest control, elimination of insects or vermin
• Genocide, the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group.

The two are quite similar in meaning however extermination makes the humans seem like pests and/or weak while annihilation places the humans as an obstacle that the pods need to get around. Other than those themes, another thing of comparison and contrast is some of the story elements. Both films have a male as the main protagonist however, Miles is a high status doctor while Ray is a recently divorced crane operator. The two films follow a plot against aliens to try and survive however, the IOTBS pods only attack Santa Mira and start to spread out while in WotW, we are unsure of how far they have spread but we know that they have taken over America. The two endings greatly contrast too, as WotW ends with Ray and Rachael reuniting with Robbie and the family while in IOTBS, Miles is out in the streets trying to warn people of the pods but he looks like  crazy person. The aftermath of the endings are very contrasting too, because in WotW all the aliens die because they have a weaker immune system than the humans while in IOTBS, we are given a cliff hanger as to the fate of the pods or Miles.

Conclusion

In the end, these two films show very different side of cinema for each generation as with the contrast in certain things and way of showing themes within them however there are also a lot of comparisons that allow the films to still take effect despite being from a different time (IOTBS). These films also show how recent events of the time can inspire or create film, such as WotW making reference to 9/11 while IOTBS is seen as a message about McCarthyism, around the time of the Red Scare.