In 2025, the film industry may have found its most amusing disaster yet with the latest adaptation of War of the Worlds. Directed with apparent ambition, the film features Ice Cube and Eva Longoria, yet it fails to impress with its current 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average of 1.2 on Letterboxd.
This rendition takes the form of a desktop movie, reminiscent of films like Unfriended and Searching. However, unlike its predecessors that found success, this version struggles with the limitations of the format.
Ice Cube stars as William Radford, a Department of Homeland Security officer who misuses his access to personal data, including spying on his daughter. The film's narrative quickly unfolds through his solitary night shift amid improbable plot turns and a confusing timeline.
The supporting cast includes Radford’s pregnant daughter Faith, her delivery driver boyfriend Mark, and Dave, Radford's video game-obsessed son. Eva Longoria stars as Dr. Sandra Salace, a NASA friend providing Radford with storm footage.
As meteors strike Earth, Radford juggles family concerns and apocalyptic chaos, connecting with other characters through Zoom meetings. The film's plot reveals aliens targeting global data centers, controlled by the enigmatic Goliath program.
Despite the use of dated stock footage and plot missteps, the movie shines light on intriguing themes of surveillance and digital dystopia, albeit executed with clumsy narrative tools.
Though technically weak with questionable CGI and storytelling, War of the Worlds manages to entertain with its absurdity and uniquely chaotic charm. It stands as a testament to creative filmmaking amidst challenging production conditions, even if the resulting product is more entertainingly flawed than inspiring.
