Snowpiercer is a Unique, Must-See Sci-Fi Film [REVIEW]

If you pack a bunch of people together into a small space for a long time, chances are things will get pretty ugly. What happens if you give some of them weapons and the means to food and water? Will people learn to share and coexist peacefully, or will human nature take over and end with winners and losers?    

Snowpiercer explores this idea by putting the last survivors of humanity on a train that’s barreling around the iced-over Earth. And judging by the rampant systematic oppression and unfair social stratification that unfolds throughout the movie, it’s safe to say that the film takes a rather pessimistic take on what people would do in the situation. The sci-fi/thriller wastes no time showing the abysmal conditions people are forced to live in by their fellow humans who just so happen to have the guns. South Korean Film Director Bong Joon-ho uses his English-language debut film to show the lengths the powerful will go to stay on top, and what the desperate are willing to sacrifice to rise above their circumstances.  

And Snowpiercer does all this extremely well. With a thrilling story and a star-studded lineup that includes excellent performances by Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, the film dives into the defining traits of humanity.  

Unlike most sci-fi movies, Snowpiercer doesn’t dazzle audiences with fantastic worlds and futuristic technology. The train is a marvel of technological advancement and it’s amazing to see the ice-covered Earth, but that’s about the extent of futuristic elements. Snowpiercer is unique to the genre it falls under because the plot and setting are one and the same. The film is all about the train and the people within it. All the action takes place in the train. The reason why everyone does what they do is either directly or indirectly because of the train. The climax of the story is what happens to the train at the end. The goal of the protagonists is to get to the front of the train.  

But the film always remains fresh, and despite having such a self-contained setting, there is a wide variety of visuals to keep audiences entertained. Each segment of the train is uniquely themed and has its own visual style. Every car is a little nicer than the last, starting with the slums where the poor and oppressed people live. That’s where the journey begins, and the front is where it ends. Curtis (Chris Evans), the protagonist of the film, moves from slum to the water room, to the food room, to the children’s classroom, to the saunas and more.   

Cutis is the seemingly fearless leader who leads the “scum” in a revolt against the front-car oppressors. His counterpart, Minister Mason (Tilda Swinton) is the one in charge of crushing the revolt by any means necessary. These two characters present a riveting dichotomy to each other; one is measured and brave, while the other is volatile, cruel, and upon capture, nothing but a coward. Swinton’s character and dialogue are reminiscent of clownish politicians and dictators who lie to the world through their teeth. She is a character that audiences will hate, but for all the right reasons.   

Speaking of dialogue and performance, Evans steals the show with his portrayal of Curtis. Throughout the story, Curtis is forced to make difficult decisions. He chooses to let his second in command and best friend die for the sake of the mission and the greater good. He is kind to his allies and ruthless to his enemies. Through a compelling and tear-jerking monologue performed by Evans that shows the exceptional quality of writing in the film, we learn that Curtis wasn’t always the hero he is now. He gives a chilling account of what it’s like to live in the slums of the train and confesses his sins.  

“After a month, we ate the weak… You know what I hate about myself? I know what people taste like. I know that babies taste best.”  

The blood from someone’s face being hammered in or learning that the “protein bars” the oppressed passengers eat are made from ground-up cockroaches aren’t as shocking as dialogue like this. The movie always remains unexpected and gripping and never lets its extreme violence drawn out the message it’s trying to present to its audience. Snowpiercer’s unique take on sci-fi, its violent and thrilling story, and expert performances by Evans and Swinton makes the film as a must-see movie.