10 Vitriolic Films Built On Biting Satire
2. Starship Troopers
"Let's all go to war and die" is the central point of mocking in this bloody sci-fi war flick from Paul Verhoeven. Beginning with a patriotic infomercial asking the viewer if they're doing their part to fight the good fight, Starship Troopers dives head-on into futuristic military fascism, showing a future where armed service is a requirement for citizenship. The conflict in question? An endless war against alien arachnids.
The greatest irony throughout the flick is that humanity provoked the bugs in the first place by expanding their space-faring empire; this reasoning is shouted down and dismissed by the main characters themselves. Cue thousands of soldiers charging to their deaths on Klendathu and beyond.
It's a piece of satire that goes hand-in-hand with the fake justifications for war in real life, whether it was the controversial Gulf of Tonkin incident or weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The constant use of war propaganda throughout the film envelops the viewer in a one-sided conflict that intentionally offers no room for interpretation.
In spite of the wooden acting and cliches in its plot, Starship Troopers' criticism of military use amid poor tactics and strategy makes for an action-packed thrill ride. But it's the film's underlying satire that makes it memorable.