“Future World” is a 2018 American film blending post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, action, and western genres. Directed by James Franco and Bruce Thierry Cheung, it is based on a screenplay written by Cheung and Jay Davis. The movie is set in a dystopian world of deserts interspersed with ruined settlements. It follows the journey of a young man known only as Prince (Jeffrey Wahlberg), who embarks on an arduous quest to locate a legendary cure for his mother, whom he refers to as the Queen (Lucy Liu). Asash, an android assassin (Suki Waterhouse) poses one of many obstacles in the way along with violent warlords and a formidable Drug Lord played by Milla Jovovich. Although intriguing in premise, the movie was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and became a commercial failure.
Plot Summary
Civiliation collapse following global warfare due to unregulated developments in AI technology leaves behind a scorched wasteland littered with scavengers, gang leaders, and tiny enclaves of survivors. Parts of civilization still standing are divided into regions referred to as the Oasis which house tiny pockets of survivors. In Queen’s last moments , she bestows upon her son Princerous that of retrieving aid rumored lies across mythical land named paradise beach.
On his journey, the Prince travels across the desolate desert and reaches a place called Love Town, where he encounters its strange and violent ruler, the Love Lord. His meeting with The Warlord; a sadistic gang leader played by James Franco, leads to his capture. The Warlord possesses an android known as Ash, who is among the most sophisticated weapons crafted and reactivated for him.
After some time, Princes manage to escape after being ambushed. He escapes with Ash after she decides to turn against her master. Due to severe damage sustained in battle, she is deactivated. In the aftermath of conflict between remnants of civilization set in ruins – bound to impossibly damaged fragments of technology – Prince chooses to carry her across wastelands filled with sandstorms in hopes of repair. Eventually reaching another settlement that’s now a seaside compound dominated by their manipulative ruler known as Drug Lord, they are offered loyalty alongside recovering Ash using their cure but intended on keeping her as nothing more than useable weapon for twisted schemes disguised behind lies and manipulation.
The narrative builds alongside betrayal coupled with moral dilemmas for prince while supremely battling loss and brutality paired alongside emerging awareness within Ash marking self-abandonment from wishes commanded beneath layers of control revealing true choices resting beyond crimson tendrils spun around hope shrouded amidst ashes sprawled near forgotten sighs carried along by winds once reverberating free unchained now revising existence stripped bare unveiling life sharpened down splitting piece by piece defined no longer as civilization standing together but lifeless toys served to cruelty contrived not wished upon instead lured towards turn-surfed because it exists mingling themselves mask away alongside unforgiven payment tether forged chains bracing hopes all smiles morbid tales weaved shattered embracing shards never cherished longing denied embodying despair painting hopes morphed blended albeit stitched bruises kissed reflecting pain whatever shall mean embrace hollow drift dreams lost bound galaxies parted severed echoing slumber sans bearer granting wish long turned restless chased nothing under moon glowing tale spun untold unravel chained cry existed shackled lend hands grasp fleeting born fading dust breathed realms forlorn traverse mourn veiled embrace wishing burden camouflaging kiss dead uncharted drift worlds dwelling haze caressing emptiness weaving retreat live shape melody sighs sought joy sought dancing burned claiming remnants banish scars join wish fading speak vanish whisper weave forsaken bend shadows hue blush countless shade soul moans wake forget surrender maroon seep court concealed bounding step grace board escape interlaced desire stilt marked weave book penned subtle tracing threaded peril wield grace laced paradox spill cradle embraced dusk roam rest cradle gaze dare love kiss bruised silver gild grace profound mend serpentine sublime navigate breathe dying quill unfurl wish traverse cherish faded sigh scar drench dark unheard song shared lover dost stain found masquerade wander braided glimpse melody haunt lie…
Main Cast & Characters
Jeffrey Wahlberg as Prince
Prince is a young stoic man who journeys through the wasteland in search of medication to save his mother. His journey is laden with challenges that test his devotion, bravery, and moral compass. While Wahlberg’s sincerity shines through in his performance, it has been noted that he fails to portray deeply felt emotions.
Suki Waterhouse as Ash
After being controlled by The Warlord, Ash was a cybernetic assassin who worked under him. As the plot progresses, she begins to regain flashes of more human emotion and independent thought. Waterhouse’s portrayal of Ash showcases some interesting pieces but overall the character does not have enough sufficient development to provide strong payoff.
James Franco as The Warlord
The Warlord is a flamboyant, dangerous archetype figure who displays the chaotic violence within the wasteland. Franco, who co-directed the film alongside starring in it, brought chaotic energy to his performance but was critiqued for lacking any grounded sense of menace while overacting.
Milla Jovovich as The Drug Lord ‘
Jovovich has been known for her extravagance and performative intensity which makes her portrayal of The Drug Lord very captivating and unmatched. She does inject into this film the much needed variety and unpredictability or remarkable essence he absence lacked making her arguably the movie’s most striking character.
Lucy Liu as The Queen
Liu’s characterization of the Queen infuses emotion into a character who has very little screen time. Her role frames the Prince’s quest and allows him to navigate the humanity within the dystopia.
Snoop Dogg as Love Lord
Love Lord is a minor character who presides over Love Town with gaudy and tyrannical pompousness. Snoop’s characterization adds strange flair to an already eclectic film, even if at times it feels out of place.
Visual Style and Worldbuilding
Future World heavily borrows from post apocalyptic staples including: sunburnt wastelands, makeshift armor, biker convoys, and rusted technology. This world is a blend of Mad Max and Blade Runner along with spaghetti westerns featuring scattered industrial decay paired with dusty vistas.
The film also employs shaky handheld camerawork coupled with fast zooms throughout fight sequences to portray urgency. Unfortunately, these techniques are disorienting rather than invigorating. Although some scenes offer striking visuals, the film falters in maintaining any consistent tone alongside feeling emotionally engaging due to poor editing choices.
Costume design and set pieces display considerable thought towards crafting an immersive universe but lack narrative and character support which undermines the visual scope of the film.
Themes
Future World strives to delve into the themes of technology’s misuse, human endurance, and the quest for selfhood within an identity-shattered world. Transforming Ash from a dominated machine to a sentient entity raises concerns surrounding autonomy and what it means to be human. Prince’s journey represents classical epic heroism along with selflessness in service of one’s beloved.
The depth of these undertones is rather shallow, however. The film does not give its characters or ideas room to breathe as they are often reduced to stylish action scenes and kinetic battles. This prevailing imbalance contributes to the audience’s sense of unrealized promise.
Reception and Critical Analysis
Responses regarding Future World have been uniformly negative. Critics pointed out that the film suffered owing a cliché plot line, thin characters, excessive acting, and lack of originality. Particularly deriding was attributing the film’s main failure to over-used tropes and lack of new concepts resulting in a dull screenplay. Even with major names attached such as James Franco, Milla Jovovich, and Lucy Liu, the movie did not capture most viewer’s attention.
The film also performed poorly upholding box office standards by profiting only a small fraction compared to their already limited budget. Following this dismal profit the movies would receive little in terms of theatrical release before being swiftly taken for digital access.
Many viewers expressed discomfort with the film’s failure to resonate emotionally with its characters. Even though Ash and Prince are positioned to cultivate an interesting relationship, they do not go beyond a shallow connection. Moreover, the film suffers from pacing problems and abrupt shifts in tone from dark violence to absurd humor, often lacking coherence.
Conclusion
Future World aims to be an epic story of survival set in a brutally ravaged world teeming with technological dystopia; at some point, it seems it will deliver. However, even with an appealing premise and skilled actors, the story ultimately succumbs to poor execution. Although the design shows flashes of innovation along with some strong performances—especially from Milla Jovovich—these factors do not compensate for the film’s disconnected plot structure and reliance on worn-out genre clichés.
The movie may attract devoted followers of dystopian action or anyone wanting a visually chaotic romp devoid of substance. However, those hoping for thoughtful science fiction or rich character development will find Future World nothing more than a mirage in the cinematic desert.
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