SETTING AND NARRATIVE
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Set in a futuristic setting or an alternative history
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Usually set in a city or a space-ship
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Always some form of “not-real” alternate reality, time, or place
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Often includes space travel and time travel
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Often set on distant planets or in space
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If set on earth, then it’s usually a dystopic reality (set after a nuclear holocaust, or after
technology has taken over, or after an oppressive government has limited freedom or
rights, etc.)
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There’s an improbable quest or epic journey – usually to save humankind or the Earth
against an invasion or oppression
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There are binary opposites of good and evil
TYPICAL CHARACTERS
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Hero on an epic quest, often is either totally arrogant
or quite self-doubting. If arrogant, then he/she gets
beaten down, but then pulls it back together and
against-all-odds goes on to defeat the enemy. If selfdoubting, then will question whether or not he/she is
the right person (destined) to do the job – has to be
convinced and developed before saving the world.
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Side-kicks, mentors, or helpers (sometimes human,
sometimes not – often at least one of them dies)
assist the hero
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Aliens or non-humans are the antagonists/villains
(including robots, monsters, killer microbes, space
creatures, androids, super-computers) – often the
villains are stubborn and arrogant with cronies or
soldiers to do the dirty work
STYLE AND VISUALS
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Plenty of special effects and lavish costuming (to portray the aliens, robots,
spaceships, etc.)
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Helmets, lasers, guns, metal
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Often lots of explosions, crashes, and shoot-outs
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Fast panning and tracking shots are used to follow the action and create tension
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Establishing shots show the futuristic city or space-ship before moving in to closer
shots
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Lots of electronic equipment, computers, and technology that seem too complicated
for us to understand
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Sometimes taps into the Horror genre codes and conventions to add suspense and
fear
THEMES
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Dystopia – technological mis-utilization. The futures is bleak, oppressive, and to
be avoided.
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Commentary on Societal and Cultural issues such as the warning against overuse of technology, war, racism, ecological destruction, medical ethics (genetics),
and one-world government oppression
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Express society’s anxiety about technology and the future