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All There is to Know About Prepping and Disaster Movies
Announcement
All There is to Know About Prepping and Disaster Movies
Prepping and disaster movies combine all the emotional elements which entice audiences: fear, sadness, happiness, relief, and sometimes, even humor. They are among the most epic categories of film and television, and often have the most complex sets and advanced special effects, creating a truly wow-factor experience for people watching them.
But, with so many real-life problems out there, why are we so drawn to disconcerting fictional depictions of disasters?
Scholars and researchers
speculate that
society are drawn to construct narratives which revolve around chaos and loss because they help us escape genuine issues, while still having a level of resonance to the characters and plot.
Why is there a high demand for survival movies?
From the fear of a governmental downfall, disease, overpopulation, terrorism, and so forth, there are many attributes within the genre of prepping, survival, and disaster movies which are fueled our anxieties, captivating us to watch more, and subsequently cause a high demand for this cinematic category.
This article will journey through all the ins and outs of the survival genre, showcasing blockbuster examples, and how this category can teach us a thing or two about real-life instances. So, get comfy and recline back as we unveil all there is to know about prepping and disaster on the big screen.
What Are
‘Survival’ Films?
Survival films are pretty much exactly as they sound. They usually involve a character, or group of characters who are fighting for their lives in the event of a disaster, while tackling various physical and emotional hurdles.
Survival films are actually a sub-genre of adventure films, an exhilarating category where the premise often revolves around characters exploring unchartered territory. Over time, survival and adventure have combined to form an entirely unique sub-genre called ‘adventure survival’.
survival + adventure = adventure survival = survival + adventure
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survival + adventure = adventure survival = survival + adventure
survival + adventure = adventure survival = survival + adventure
Sub-Genres of Survival
(With Examples)
From tear-jerkers to heart-wrenchers, survival movies come in many forms. While each sub-genre have their own clichés, many attributes overlap. For instance, there can be disaster survival movies which also feature a romantic plot-point, ultimately overlapping with the romance survival category.
While there is an overwhelming abundance of survival sub-genres, it’s not all as confusing as it may seem. To help you understand and find your next favorite genre (and film) we have compiled definitions of the most popular sub-genres within this cinematic category, alongside highly rated examples to add to your movie list.
Adventure Survival
As touched upon earlier, adventure survival is a genre which combines two classic categories of film. These films focus upon a character/group of characters who are embarking on a dangerous and exciting journey through extreme conditions while trying to stay alive. Here are a few must-watch examples of adventure survival movies:
Life of Pi
In this breathtaking cinematic masterpiece, a family, the Patels’, decide to give up their zoo in India and move to Canada. Together they board a ship with some of their animals, however, tragedy strikes when a storm kills everyone except for the Patels’ teenage boy, Pi (portrayed by Suraj Sharma). While Pi may be the only human survivor, he discovers a refuge bengal tiger.
Pi and the tiger put their differences, rather natural tendencies, aside and share a lifeboat as they embark across the ocean. If you are craving a visually mesmerizing, touching survival movie, then ‘Life of Pi’ will certainly suffice!
Director
Ang Lee
Release Date – 2012
Director
Albert
Hughes
Release Date – 2018
Alpha
After being abandoned by his tribe, Keda, a young boy who’s father was Chief of the tribe, must find a way to survive alone in the wilderness. Coincidentally, Keda finds an injured lone-wolf who has been left by its pack.
Together Keda and the wild wolf develop an unlikely friendship and team up to tackle the unforgiving natural forces, in an attempt to make it home before winter arrives.
Backcountry
A young outdoorsy couple escape their city life for a camping trip in the rural country. Deep into their journey, things turn dark when they realize they forgot their phones and are completely lost. To make matters worse, the couple soon find a giant ferocious bear is following their trail.
Director
Adam
MacDonald
Release Date – 2014
Space Survival
Space survival movies combine cosmic sci-fi with deadly scenarios, ultimately creating an intergalactic disaster which will have you on the edge of your sofa. From deadly alien infestations to space-missions gone wrong, there is an infinite amount of space survival movies waiting to be watched! Check out these ominous space survival movies:
Alien
In this classic space survival movie, a crew aboard the ‘Nostromo’ spaceship awaken from their cryogenic sleep pods to investigate an alarming call from extra-terrestrial vessel. In response to the call, the crew enter the illusive spaceship to discover a cluster of alien eggs.
All terror breaks loose as an unknown organism from within an egg latches onto a crew member, sending them into a coma. The team run back to the safety of their own spacecraft, but shortly discover they are not the only living beings aboard.
Director
Ridley Scott
Release Date – 1979
Director
Ridley Scott
Release Date – 2015
The Martian
The Martian is another exceptional Ridley Scott movie which draws all focus to a stranded botanist researcher, Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), who was left behind on Mars by his crew after being presumed dead. With limited supplies and a hostile environment, Watney combines all his skills and self-willingness to survive while he awaits his rescue.
Gravity
Starring Sandra Bullock as an astronaut, named Ryan Stone, and George Clooney as an expert engineer, called Matt Kowalski, ‘Gravity’ follows their routine mission in space which is interrupted by rapid space-debris.
The situation soon takes a terrifying turn as the shuttle gets destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski hopelessly floating through the depths of space. In order to save themselves, they realize they must journey further into the intergalactic abyss.
Director
Alfonso
Cuarón
Release Date – 2013
Survival Horror
If you want a horror movie with an added fear factor, then survival horror will do the trick! This genre often showcases characters trying to escape supernatural, demonic forces in order to keep their hearts pumping and their limbs intact. Be warned, this sub-genre can get pretty spooky and gruesome! Here are some examples of survival horror movies:
The Descent
In this British horror, a group of friends embark on an expedition into a cave. After journeying deep underground, they discover eery paintings on the caves surfaces, as well as unnerving evidence of a previous expedition. As they continue to explore they realize they may not be the only ones wandering in the dark crevasses.
Director
Neil
Marshall
Release Date – 2005
Director
John Erick
Dowdle
Release Date – 2014
As Above So Below
In this found-footage survival horror, a group of historical explorers travel through the Parisian catacombs in pursuit for the philosophers’ stone. Things get unusual as the team encounter a series of deadly supernatural forces, ushering them deeper into the underground.
30 Days of Night
This movie is set in a small town in Alaska which is preparing for its yearly ‘30 days of night’ saga, a time during Winter where there is a 30-day polar night. During this time, most of the town’s population travel south to avoid the never-ending darkness.
However, some choose to stay behind, a decision they later regret. As the sun sets for the last time, until next month, a herd of blood-thirsty vampires enter the town to feed on its remaining residents.
Director
David Slade
Release Date – 2007
Apocalyptic and
Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic movies are by far the most popular survival sub-genre. With zombie outbreaks, deadly pandemics, and natural disasters, there is an entire spectrum of doomsday scenarios which depict the end of the world. Here are our favorites:
2012
With the world completely oblivious to Earth’s expiration date, world leaders and top scientists prepare an indestructible vessel which is exclusively reserved for Earth’s most elite members of society.
As land is being engulfed by vicious tsunami waves, a father and unsuccessful writer, Jackson Curtis, tries all he can to save his family and get them aboard the ship.
Director
Roland
Emmerich
Release Date – 2009
Director
George Miller
Release Date – 2015
Mad Max: Fury Road
Set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future with an unhinged society of tyrants and rebels, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ focuses on a somewhat dictator, Immortan Joe, who enslaves survivors inside Citadel, a desert fortress.
A warrior named Imperator Furiosa (portrayed by Charlize Theron) attempts to help Immortan Joe’s five enslaved wives escape the ruthless kingdom, joining forces with Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy), which then leads to a thrilling chase through the desolate wastelands.
28 Days Later
When Londoner Jim (played by Cillian Murphy) awakens from a 28-day coma, he finds the hospital he’s admitted in to be empty, and the City of London deserted. After roaming the empty landscape, Jim realizes that he is among the living dead. Whilst running from the zombies, Jim meets a group of survivors, some who are good people and some with bad intentions.
Director
Danny Boyle
Release Date – 2002
Comedy Survival
Survival movies aren’t all focused on mystery and suffering. There is a decent selection of humorous comedy survival movies which will have you giggling until your tummy aches! If you are in the mood of a more light-hearted survival film, be sure to watch the following suggestions:
This is the End
Playing himself, James Franco hosts a Hollywood house-party with his celebrity friends, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride. A sudden apocalypse takes place outside, trapping the friends inside Francos mansion. Stuck with each others company, the group of elites begin fighting, not just to survive, but with eachother.
Director
Seth
Rogen &
Evan
Goldberg
Release Date – 2013
Director
Edgar
Wright
Release Date – 2013
The World’s End
Simon Pegg plays Gary King, a 40-year-old man-child who wants to re-attempt a bar crawl he did 20-odd years earlier. King assembles his not-so-eager pals back to the town they grew up in, with the intention of reliving a night of hardcore drinking.
As the friendship group join together, they try to settle unresolved issues of the past, while completely unaware of other issues going on, which might put an end to the world. With the burden of humanity’s fate on their hands, the group must do all they can to not get killed and save earth from otherworldly beings.
Disaster Movie
Featuring Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Minnillo, and Matt Lanter, this parody survival movie follows a group of friends in their 20s who must exert every effort to dodge various natural and man-made disasters. Some of the many perils they are faced with include asteroids, tornados, earthquakes, and even British singer, Amy Winehouse (played by an impersonator)!
Director
Jason
Friedberg &
Aaron
Seltzer
Release Date – 2008
Romance Survival
While the idea of being stuck on a desert island with your dearest love may not sound so appetizing in real life, it certainly makes an exquisite movie genre! If you’re in the mood for a lovey-dovey film with a touch of survival, you will undoubtedly fall head-over-zheels for these suggestions:
The Blue Lagoon
In this coming-of-age movie, two children survive a shipwreck and are left to fend for themselves on a tropical island. As the years pass by, their adolescence progresses and so do their emotions toward each other. Once the pair reach maturity, they grow closer together and soon form a romantic relationship.
Director
Randal
Kleiser
Release Date – 1980
Director
James
Cameron
Release Date – 1997
The Titanic
Inspired by the devastating events of the ‘Titanic’ ship sinking in 1912, this movie focuses on the iconic, and unlikely, love story of fictional characters Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (played by Kate Winslet).
While 17-year-old Rose comes from aristocracy, Jack is an artist who comes from nothing, setting the two worlds apart. Despite societal beliefs and the inevitable disapproval of Rose’s wealthy family (and fiancé), the pair do not let anyone or anything get in the way of their love for each other.
The Mountain Between Us
Two strangers (Idris Elba and Kate Winslet) are stranded on a remote, icy mountain after surviving a tragic plane crash. After concluding that they will not be saved, the pair take matters into their own hands and embark on a precarious journey traveling hundreds of miles through thick snow.
In this emotional journey, both characters encourage each other to keep pushing forward, which subsequently paves the way for an intimate connection, growing them closer together.
Director
Hany Abu-
Assad
Release Date – 2017
Family-Friendly Survival
Because survival movies often have a great deal of gore, harsh language, and sometimes, overcomplicated storylines, they aren’t usually a child-friendly go-to genre. However, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that there are many lighthearted, PG survival films out there, suited to all ages!
If you want to spend some bonding time with your kids, and need some age-appropriate survival movie suggestions, check out this curated list:
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Starring Brandon Fraser and Josh Hutchinson, this movie follows a professor, his nephew, and their mountain guide, as they embark on a riveting expedition to find the professor’s missing brother.
As they delve deeper into the Earth, they discover an otherworldly region and encounter spectacular creatures, such as dinosaurs. However, trouble strikes when the group realize that they are surrounded by sizzling volcanos.
Director
Eric
Brevig
Release Date – 2008
Director
Andrew
Adamson
Release Date – 2005
The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Set in World War II, a group of British siblings escape the London bombings by retreating to a grand country estate. Upon exploring the rooms, one of the siblings, Lucy, stumbles across an enchanting world through an old wardrobe.
Together, Lucy, her sister, and her brothers wander through the mystical realm of Narnia where they meet a magical talking lion, Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), who teams up with the children to fight a menacing white witch, Neda (portrayed by Tilda Swinton).
Brother Bear
Heartwarming and fun, this pawsome movie is excellent for families looking for a feel-good adventure! ‘Brother Bear’ is about an Alaskan-native boy, Kenai, who seeks to kill the bear who killed his brother. As punishment for his revenge, Kenai gets turned into a bear himself, and must travel to the mountains to become human once again.
During his journey, Kenai meets a friendly bear cub, Koda, who helps him on his endeavors. While this film is about discovery and survival, it will certainly teach your whole family a valuable life-lesson of acceptance and transformation.
Director
Aaron Blaise
& Robert
Walker
Release Date – 2003
Real-Life Survival
While there is an abundance of fantastic fictional survival movies out there, sometimes the most jaw-dropping tales are from the real world. If you are intrigued by the natural dangers of our planet, and unbelievably true stories of real survivors, you’re in for a treat! Here are our top picks for real-life survival movies:
Touching the Void
‘Touching the Void’ combines dramatized depictions (starring Ollie Ryall, Brenden Mackey and Nicholas Aaron) with real-life accounts from Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, two mountaineers who embarked on an almost-fatal journey across the Peruvian Andes Mountains.
Following the true events where the pair successfully conquered Siula Grande, this nail-biting, yet remarkably informative documentary takes you through a realistic portrayal of how Simpson fell and suffered a severe injury leaving Yates to carry out a terrifying self-rescue in the brutal, blustering weather conditions.
Director
Kevin
Macdoald
Release Date – 2003
Director
Danny
Boyle
Release Date – 2010
127 Hours
In this astonishing movie, Oscar-winning film director, Danny Boyle, tells the true story of an American adventurer called Aron Ralston (depicted by James Franco).
This movie follows Ralston’s journey through the remote canyons of Utah which unexpectedly turns into a real-life nightmare when he falls, trapping his arm beneath a bolder. With no water or food left, Ralston’s time runs out, leaving him to make an unfathomable decision.
Jungle
In this shocking biographical survival movie, three friends travel to South America where Yossi (played by Daniel Radcliffe) becomes enraptured by a stranger’s mysterious tales of a lost Indian tribe who reside deep within the Amazon. Feeding his curiosity, Yossi and his pals follow their new acquaintance into the jungle, where things take a dark turn.
Director
Greg
McLean
Release Date – 2017
Top 15 Survival & Disaster TV Shows
Survival and disaster TV shows are an extremely popular entertainment category. From binge-worthy reality series where modern city goers strip back and delve into the great outdoors, to apocalyptic survival dramas jam-packed with zombies and action, our top 15 list covers the full spectrum of survival and disaster TV shows.
1/15
The Last of Us
Sub-Genre: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Where To Watch:
Based on the multi-award winning game
Based on the multi-award winning game, ‘The Last of Us’ is a gripping, and visually mesmerizing, zombie apocalypse drama primarily focuses on thick-skinned survivor, Joel (played by Pedro Pascal), depicting his life both at the start of the outbreak and after.
Joel comes by Ellie (portrayed by Bella Ramsey) who he must protect as they journey across America, in an effort of saving humanity.
2/15
Man Vs Wild
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
When it comes to real-life survival TV, there’s no one tougher than former SAS soldier, Bear Grylls
In this compelling reality TV series, Grylls finds himself in some of mother nature’s harshest locations across the globe, challenging his survival tactics and capabilities by applying his advanced military training.
3/15
Chernobyl
Sub-Genre: Real-Life/Disaster Survival
Where To Watch:
Based on the devastating real-life events of the Chernobyl power station, this historical miniseries tells the story of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history, which took place in 1986, during the Soviet era.
The story focuses on scientists and politicians working to contain and save Europe from disaster, after a reactor within the Chernobyl power station exploded, causing deadly levels of radio-active particles to pour out into the atmosphere and contaminate the surrounding regions.
4/15
Naked and Afraid
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
This outrageously captivating reality TV series challenges contestants, who are referred to as ‘survivalists’, to ditch their modern conveniences, and clothes, and survive in the wilderness for 21 days. Each survivalist may only bring one tool of their choosing to help them survive during their primitive excursion.
5/15
Raised By Wolves
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi Survival
Where To Watch:
Two AI androids are tasked with colonizing a foreign planet
After a violent war between atheists and a religious group breaks out on Earth, putting humanity on the brink of extinction, two AI androids are tasked with colonizing a foreign planet. Starting with 12 embryos, the androids work together to raise an atheist civilization.
However, the planet the AI’s settled on has dangerous creatures and viruses which pose a great threat to the community of children they are trying to raise — not to mention, a deeply religious group of humans with concerning intentions.
6/15
Doomsday Preppers
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
‘Doomsday Preppers’ follows the lives of different people who have devoted their lives to preparing for the worst-case scenario for humanity, the apocalypse. From electromagnetic pulses to tsunami floods, this series showcases a multitude of preppers and their unique conspiracies which have led them to becoming extreme survivalists.
7/15
The Rain
Sub-Genre: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Where To Watch:
This Netflix-original is about a deadly virus which is carried in rainwater, causing almost every human to die.
Danish siblings Rasmus and Simone take shelter in an underground bunker while they await their scientist father to return.
Six years on and the two are still left waiting for their parent to arrive. Assuming their father is never returning, the siblings decide to venture outdoors.
8/15
Mountain Men
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
Following a group of men who prefer the ‘simple life’ this reality TV show gives an insight into what it’s like to live off-grid and live among natures unspoiled landscapes. Using ancient survival techniques, such as harvesting firewood, this show will have you questioning if you have what it takes to live like a mountain man.
9/15
Squid Game
Sub-Genre: Horror/Drama Survival
Where To Watch:
Unlike most survival series which are concerned with the outdoors, ‘Squid Game’ is an unsettling show shot almost entirely inside a top secret facility on a secluded island. The premise of this show revolves around 456 individuals who have signed up to a cash-prize game with the hopes of alleviating their financial struggles.
In order to win, the contestants must part-take in various kids games with a deadly twist. The last one surviving may take home the hefty lump sum of cash and resume their lives.
10/15
The 100
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Where To Watch:
100 delinquents are sent to Earth to test if it is habitable enough for the remaining members of civilization to return
Set almost 100 years after a deadly nuclear apocalypse, a group of 100 delinquents are sent to Earth to test if it is habitable enough for the remaining members of civilization to return. This dystopian show tells the story of survival, love, conflict, and dominance.
11/15
Bear Grylls Survival Story
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
Bear Grylls equips a group of youngsters with essential survival tips through various challenges and tasks.
Together the children ditch their cellphones and iPads and follow Grylls on an expedition into the Welsh landscapes of Snowdonia, UK, where they learn how to survive in the wilderness.
12/15
The Walking Dead
Sub-Genre: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Where To Watch:
‘The Walking Dead’ is an OG zombie survival TV show which follows protagonist Rick (played by Andrew Lincoln) a small-town sheriff’s deputy who fights anyone who comes in his family’s way of survival.
Over the course of this 11-season TV show, we see Rick and his group constantly diverting and tackling zombies, referred to as ‘walkers’, and escaping rogue humans, who often incite more fear than the walkers!
13/15
Lost in Space
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi Survival
Where To Watch:
The Robinsons are a family of space colonists who unexpectedly crash land on an alien planet.
Stuck with limited resources, they must fight for their lives to survive the desolate, dangerous conditions.
14/15
Alaska: The Last Frontier
Sub-Genre: Real-Life Survival
Where To Watch:
This reality TV series documents the day-to-day lives of the Kilcher family, who are descendants of Alaskan innovators and Swiss immigrants.
Throughout the show, you see how the family ditch modern technology and resort to traditional survival tactics, such as hunting, to live out the long cold winters.
15/15
Sweet Tooth
Sub-Genre: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Where To Watch:
Based on an American comic book, ‘Sweet Tooth’ focuses on a young boy called Gus, who is half deer, half human.
The story develops when Gus leaves his life in the woods and embarks on a dangerous adventure through a post-apocalyptic world with his protector.
What Can Disaster and Survival Movies Teach You About Real-Life Prepping?
While survival movies often focus upon fiction, they almost always incorporate some level of real-life into them — for instance, hunting is often seen across this genre. However, there may be a deeper, more philosophical way that disaster and survival movies can teach us about what it really takes to fight for your life.
Here are a few elements of this genre which apply to real-life
While survival heavily depends on resilience and intuition, we also need strength and agility. More often than not, the weakest characters tend to die first in most survival movies. Physical strength will only elevate your odds of survival as it will help you to run from predators, climb mountains, build shelters, and so forth.
It’s rare that you watch a disaster or survival movie without any tear-jerking scenes. This is because surviving takes guts and usually involves hard decisions, as well as handling loss, especially for heroes!
While many of us are fixated upon the physical aspect of prepping, such as getting fitter, we often forget about how emotionally challenging it can be to constantly defend your existence and ensure the ones you love stay alive.
The smartest characters in most survival movies tend to also be the most resourceful. Most situations which require us to survive often leave us restricted with little to no resources, which is why it’s crucial to become an innovator yourself, and learn how to transform basic items into advanced tools.
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