Old, Obscure, and lesser known Sci-Fi films. - This thread is dedicated to finding and discussing lesser known and obscure Sci-Fi films, Sci-Fi lost media and recommendations are also welcome.

[01101101 01101001 0110111]

Art by Jean Giraud "Moebius".

 

[Fascist Frederick]

Upgrade (2018), nobody has seen it but it was really good. Just a few years too early, the AI focused plot would have been a huge hit if it came out today, with everyone going: "SEE?! THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!"

 

[Astro Loafo]

What even counts as sci fi? I feel like all sci fi is just space adventures

 

[Not Really Here]

Upgrade (201, nobody has seen it but it was really good. Just a few years too early, the AI focused plot would have been a huge hit if it came out today, with everyone going: "SEE?! THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!"

Most realistic portrayal of AI, Strong AI, General AI, or whatever the fuck we're calling it this year. Outsmarts the planet, gets exactly what it wants, exactly according to plan.
One of the best Sci-Fi films this decade.


Moon (2009)

Don't look it up, just watch it before you get spoilers.


Europa Report (2013)

Most realistic outcome of a long duration mission to Jovian orbit.
Double post avoidance edit:

Attack the Block (2011)
Aliens visit London, meet chavs, London gets a one star review on interstellar Yelp.

Films apparently classed as Sci-Fi, that are arguably just fiction works, but still good.

The Man from Earth (2007)
A professor takes a few friends on a weekend retreat where he reveals he's a human immortal that predates human speech, and witnessed the invention of agriculture, and everything after.


The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Wherein Phillip K. Dick once again asks the question: "Does humanity deserve to exist?" This time using destiny, and angels!

 

[Dysnomia]

Pale Cocoon. It's an obscure anime short film from 2006 about a future where people live in a compound under an unknown sea. It's been centuries since humans had to escape to this place and the entire compound is breaking down with life support beginning to fail. So levels of the compound keep having to be sealed off to conserve power. It's cold and miserable. The two main characters work as hackers who extract corrupted info from the computers. The back story develops as you watch the videos of people preparing to leave the surface due to some unknown calamity. The people still left in the compound are trying to find out what happened and what they can do to save themselves.

It's really interesting. It's not some moe moe blob waifu crap if you are worried about that. It used more realistic style. Yasuhiro Yoshiura has other films with sci fi themes but I haven't seen them yet. Probably worth checking out.

 

[MerelyAPlateOfSpaghetti]

The 13th Floor was pretty damn good, but got btfo by The Matrix so it seems a lot of people haven't seen it.

 

[TheBallPit]

Looker (1981), directed by the legendary Michael Crichton. People tend to concentrate on the "magic hypnotizing gun" that's, admittedly, frequently used in the film, but it's really about AI imagery taking over human jobs and how it would be criminally abused by corporations (e.g., murder). It is HELLACIOUSLY prescient given the current controversy regarding image generative AI and, given the terrifying technical strides we've seen in the field, now entirely believable.

I suppose it's low-fi sci-fi since there are no aliens or spaceships, but I think it still fits the genre.

While I'm talking about Crichton, I suppose I'd be remiss in not mentioning the original Westworld and Futureworld. I was really, REALLY hoping that the HBO series would be a genuine sequel to the two films, but nope, it just had to go and do its own thing, run off the rails, and is now canceled (fortunately).

 

[Soggy Floppa]

Not sure how obscure it is, but The Hidden from 1987 is pretty good. It's about an alien parasite that takes over a bunch of normal people and starts committing crimes

 

[LinkinParkxNaruto[AMV]]

If you like Moebius you need to check out Dragon Heaven, its a sci fi anime heavily inspired by his art style. Also Les Maitres du Temps but thats obvious since he was involved directly with it.

Ai city is another cool underated anime from the 80s if you are into weird psychedelic stuff. In live action on a similar vein of "science fantasy" and more trippy stuff City of Lost Children, Existenz and Dark City

 

[Tor Lugosi]

Speaking of AI, Colossus: The Forbin Project is one of my favorite films. It's basically about the government creating AI and then getting fucked over by it. I'm pretty sure it's at least partially what inspired James Cameron when he created the back story for Terminator.

 

[mofu mofo]

2nding Dark City & Dragon's Heaven.

Gamer:

It's more or less 'what if your online FPS character was a real person?'

I Am Mother

 

[Constellationzero]

My Pick: The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster

 

[Sean_Igger]

My pick is Split Second with Rutger Hauer. His character is a detective tracking a monster terrorizing a London that's been flooded by global warming.

 

[Battlecruiser3000ad]

This is where I'll shill for Tomorrow I'll Wake Up And Scald Myself With Tea (1977) again.

 

[Sayer of the N-Word]

The 13th Floor was pretty damn good, but got btfo by The Matrix so it seems a lot of people haven't seen it.

It pairs well with Dark City, another good movie which used to be talked about a bit but has fallen into obscurity.

 

[Swine Schwein]

Richard Stanley's Hardware (1990).

Not THAT obscure, somewhat of a small cult film, but not that well known either. It's got a personality of its own, and it feels like a b-movie that got drunk and managed to get lucky with an arthouse film.

Anyway, a cool chick builds a robot and then shit happens. What more do you want? How is this not enough?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMaVIAlJlnw

 

[Meat Target]

A Russian adaptation of Ray Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rains. Has that really cursed 70's/80's animation style.

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

The Great Martian War: 1913-1917
The History Channel brings you a centennial look back at that time invaders from Mars attacked Earth

 

[Eadred]

Someone in the art and literature subforum recommended The Andromeda Strain book. Sounded interesting.
Today I watched the movie and I really enjoyed it. No bullshit, hard science fiction with a lot of emphasis on the science part. Cinematography was excellent, soundtrack added a nice layer of atmosphere and the characters were established well, and contributed to the story without walking into any obvious trope traps. Set design was great too.
I highly recommend it, especially in todays hellscape that is the movie making industry.

 

[Caesare]

Turkey Shoot/Escape 2000. An Australian sci-fi movie about prisoners in a dysfunctional future who get to play "the most dangerous game". Idk how obscure it is but I never really hear people talking about it.