20 Years After (2008)

Director:

Jim Torres

Writers:

Ron Harris (writer)
Jim Torres (writer)

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

After the Bombs. After the Plagues. Before the Unknown.

Plot:

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong: War, Terrorism, Natural Disasters. Evacuees were ushered...

Plot Keywords:

Post Apocalyptic | Time In Title | Huntsville Alabama | Mother Daughter Relationship | Ventriloquist's Dummy

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Azura Skye	...	Sara
Joshua Leonard	...	Michael
Nathan Baesel	...	David
Reg E. Cathey	...	Samuel
Diane Salinger	...	Margaret
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Beene	...	Quincy
Deborah Duke	...	Mrs. Coday
Shannon Eubanks	...	Ms. Mynard
Aaron Hendry	...	Pierre
Khadijah	...	Delinda
Malika	...	Dilcy
Amelia Rose Onuszkanycz	...	Baby sara
Phil Parker	...	Harvey
Graham Roden	...	Allen
Charlie Talbert	...	Janus

Also Known As:

20 Years After (USA) (DVD title)
Like Moles, Like Rats (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fayetteville, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Kooroc Films

Trivia:

The movie was primarily shot at Three Caves, an abandoned quarry, in Huntsville, Alabama. Also in North Alabama, is Cathedral Caverns, where the 1984 Timothy Bottoms movie "What Waits Below" was filmed. Bill Schweikert was a grip on "What Waits Below" and was back as cinematographer for "Moles".

Quotes:

Sara: My mother's just afraid of change.
Michael: Most people are, nowadays.

An interesting experiment

In the last years,there has been an explosion of movies with a post-apocalyptic subject and I think there are two reasons for that : worldwide situation is everyday more dangerous and unpredictable and that inspires to speculate what life is going to be like in the days after our civilization goes down because of its vices and mistakes.The other reason is technical : the easy access to audio and video equipment,accompanied with the edition and digital distribution,makes easier the creation of cheap movies about the future world which will be full of danger (translation : filmmaker aspirants,who have more enthusiasm than talent,call some of their friends,and on their free time,they make a semi-improvised movie using old clothes,artificial blood and a location lent by some member of their family).20 Years After could have been one of that generic movies because of the amateur performances,mistakes on the art direction and an irregular visual style.However,I give credit to this movie because it avoids a lot of clichés from this kind of movies (for example,the zombies)and because it tried to do something deeper,more realistic and meditative about the future world.In other words,the element I mostly appreciated from this movie is its ambition.I also appreciated the deepness put on the characters because,thinking it well,they all represent different aspects of the humanity.I may be giving this movie too much credit but I noticed that behind the various fails from this movie (for example,the screenplay is irregular and there are some boring moments),there are solid concepts and a clear porpoise...although the movie did not completely achieve that.The story from this movie sounds as an ultra-modest version of the film Children of Men and,of course,this film very far away from that brilliant movie.But,inside its limited possibilities,it tries to make us think at the same time it entertains us.20 Years After does not always get that difficult point but I still respect this film because it tried to go a bit more far away.So,I can recommend this movie as a failed but interesting experiment.In summary,what I mostly appreciated from 20 Years After is that it risked to fail for making something more creative and ambitious than what this kind of post-apocalyptic low-budget films usually do.As I have said many times,it's better to see a movie which failed for trying to go beyond its limits than a movie which failed for not risking.So,because of that,20 Years After deserves respect.