The first trailer for Craig Zobel’s (Compliance) Z For Zachariah has premiered, focusing on Margot Robbie (Focus) as one of the few survivors of nuclear disaster that wipes out most of civilization. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it garnered a promising buzz and enthusiastic praise for its trio of performances. The film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Chris Pine (Into the Woods).
Z for Zachariah is adapted from the Robert C. O’Brien novel of the same name, telling a post-apocalyptic tale of a woman who believes herself to be one of the last survivors of a nuclear wipeout, until she meets another man. Just as the two of them learn to live together, a second man appears and complicates matters, as both men share starkly different ideologies and beliefs. The trailer sets up this premise rather successfully, and presents a complex triangle between Robbie, Ejiofor, and Pine amidst the harsh setting of a world ravaged by radiation.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine have both dipped their toes in post-apocalyptic waters before, with the two starring in Children of Men (2006) and Carriers (2009), respectively. The genre has certainly seen a resurgence in the past decade, and with the smashing success of this year’s Mad Max: Fury Road, it seems unlikely to fade. Still, judging from the trailer, Zachariah doesn’t seem to be as action-packed as Mad Max, as it appears to highlight more of a slow-burn vision of the genre. Last year’s The Rover, which went for a similar vision of the post-apocalypse, had its share of loyal followers.
Z for Zachariah will get a limited release starting on August 21st.
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