3. The Road (2009)
Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy,
The Road shows the world in the aftermath of an undisclosed meltdown that has left the only survivors lacking resources (and morals). As a result, a wholly devastated America has succumb to a society of cannibals, many of whom are desperate to get their hands on the movie's protagonists, an unnamed man and his son. Director John Hillcoat does not betray McCarthy's novel. So harrowing is
The Road, in fact, that I was left utterly speechless in the aftermath. There are few movies that exist in such a state of genuine bleakness, but
The Road is certainly one of them. As the man and his son make their ordained journey to the coast, one that may or may not have been pointless in the first place, we experience the remainder of humanity at is lowest ebb. The fact that their excessive journey is likely futile cuts deep. And watching a father doing his best to ensure the survival of his son, despite his own degrading health and broken spirit, is never anything but truly depressing to watch. What, ultimately, do these tortured characters have to live for? In a lot of ways,
The Road might be far too enamoured wit its own bleakness to recommend even a single viewing. If you make it to the end, you'll certainly think twice about re-visiting this particular picture.