Directed by John Hillcoat, “The Road” follows Man (Viggo Mortensen) and Boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as a father-son duo trying to navigate the hellish landscape that’s post-apocalyptic America. Stark and slim on details, the film isn’t interested in showing why the world ended, but rather depicting the lengths people will go to survive in the wake of a mass extinction level. We’ll go light on spoilers, but “The Road” is pure realism, showing just how depraved and cruel humanity can be when civil order is shattered.
What makes the movie truly stand out, at least when it comes to post-apocalyptic genre, is how it doesn’t romanticize the end of days or make them feel larger-than-life. “I love both the film and book so much. Seems like every other post apocalyptic film or book somehow glamorizes the end of days in comparison to ‘The Road,'” wrote u/Smoke_Stack707.
Some have found the film to be a real source of inspiration to help navigate a potential real-life doom’s day scenario. “I always looked at ‘The Road’ as more of a training manual for the possible horrific future that awaits us,” shared u/LTPRWSG420. “One of the main objectives of the characters is to still hold onto the light no matter what, meaning don’t resort to cannibalism and slavery when the world goes to hell.”
Loved “The Road” and need similarly introspective films? Check out 25 movies about the end of the world you should watch next.
