Zone 39

Watch Zone 39

  • NR
  • 1996
  • 1 hr 35 min
  • 4.5  (297)

Zone 39 is a 1996 Australian science fiction film directed and written by John Tatoulis. The movie stars Peter Phelps, Carolyn Bock, and William Zappa. The story is set in the near future of 2017, where global famine has caused mass migration, and the world's population is struggling with overcrowding and overconsumption. The premise of the movie revolves around the discovery of a new wonder crop discovered in the remote Australian outback. A scientist named Anderson (played by Peter Phelps) works for a powerful corporation called ADCorp, and he is dispatched to the outback to locate and extract seeds from the crop. Anderson's real mission is to prevent the crop from being disseminated, as the corporation fears the loss of its power and control over the world's food supply.

Anderson teams up with a local ecologist named Tara (played by Carolyn Bock) to study the crop and its impact on the environment. They soon discover that the crop holds the secret to solving the world's famine problem, and Anderson must decide whether to follow his conscience or obey his corporate masters who want to hoard the crop for their own gain. Meanwhile, they face opposition from powerful forces who want to keep the crop a secret and use it to consolidate their power.

The film's plot is well-paced, with several twists that keep the audience engaged. The cinematography is excellent, capturing the vastness of the outback and the claustrophobic and sterile corporate environments. The use of the Australian landscape as a backdrop to the film is an interesting aspect and adds a unique flavour.

One of the film's strongest points is its cast. Peter Phelps, Carolyn Bock, and William Zappa deliver excellent performances, creating characters that feel real and relatable. Phelps does a great job of playing the conflicted protagonist, torn between his loyalty to the corporation and his sense of morality. Bock is equally impressive in her portrayal of the idealistic ecologist, determined to protect the environment at any cost. Zappa also does well as the smooth-talking corporate executive, oozing charm and menace.

Another aspect that stands out in the movie is its exploration of ethical choices in corporate culture. Zone 39 delves deep into the moral conflicts that arise in a corporate environment and how one's ethical choices can affect their greater communities.

Though the movie is set in the future, it could easily resonate with contemporary concerns about climate change and environmental destruction. The film raises questions about the relationship between corporate greed and the public good, the morality of using new technologies without considering their broader impacts, and the role of science in society.

The only downside to the movie is that it could be accused of being slightly predictable, with some of the plot twists being somewhat unsurprising. However, this is not too detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the film.

In conclusion, Zone 39 is an enjoyable and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that raises questions about the intersection of corporate power and ethics. The film provides solid performances, an engaging plot, and a critical investigation of corporate culture. Anyone interested in exploring ethical issues in business, technology, and environmentalism would find this film worth checking out.

Zone 39
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Description
  • Release Date
    1996
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 35 min
  • Language
    French
  • IMDB Rating
    4.5  (297)