𝙒𝘼𝙍𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭)
WARNING (2021) – A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Anthology Exploring Technology and Humanity
Dive into the unsettling near future with Warning (2021), a bold science fiction thriller that weaves together a series of interconnected stories examining the perils of humanity’s overreliance on technology. Directed by Agata Alexander in her feature film debut, this U.S.-Polish co-production premiered at the 2021 Sitges Film Festival and was released in limited theaters and on digital platforms on October 22, 2021. With a stellar ensemble cast and a Black Mirror-esque vibe, Warning tackles themes of loneliness, faith, and the meaning of life in a tech-saturated world, though its ambitious scope has sparked mixed reactions. Here’s a comprehensive look at this intriguing indie sci-fi anthology.
Release Date and Production Updates
Warning debuted at the Sitges Film Festival on October 8, 2021, before its limited theatrical release and simultaneous digital launch in the U.S. on October 22, 2021, through Lionsgate. In the UK, Signature Entertainment released it on digital platforms and DVD on October 25, 2021. The film, rated R for language, sexual content, a sexual assault, some drug use, and nudity, has a runtime of 1 hour 26 minutes. Directed by Agata Alexander, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Kaye and Rob Michaelson, Warning was produced by Anova Pictures, Film Produkcja, and others, with Cybill Lui Eppich and Staszek Dziedzic as lead producers. Filming took place in Poland, leveraging elegant widescreen cinematography by Jakub Kijowski and production design by Jagna Dobesz. Announced in September 2018, the project initially included actors like James D’Arcy and Laura Harrier, but the final cast shifted. Despite a modest box office of $188,173 in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, the film has found a niche audience on streaming platforms like Hulu, Amazon Video, and Tubi TV.
Cast: A Diverse and Talented Ensemble
Warning boasts an impressive cast, bringing depth to its fragmented narratives:
- Thomas Jane stars as David, an astronaut stranded in space after an electrical accident, grappling with his mortality. Jane’s raw performance anchors the film’s emotional core.
- Alice Eve plays Claire, a devout user of “God 2.0,” an Alexa-like prayer device, whose faith crumbles when the system fails. Eve shines in her darkly comedic role.
- Annabelle Wallis portrays Nina, a mortal woman navigating tensions with her immortal in-laws, adding nuance to a story of love and societal divides.
- Alex Pettyfer as Liam, Nina’s passive immortal boyfriend, whose real-life father, Richard Pettyfer, plays his on-screen father, Ron, adding a meta layer.
- Rupert Everett delivers a quirky performance as Charlie, an outdated companion robot with a 1950s comedian persona, facing obsolescence.
- Kylie Bunbury plays Anna, a woman stalked by a mysterious electronic figure, bringing intensity to the film’s closest brush with horror.
- Supporting roles include Patrick Schwarzenegger, Charlotte Le Bon, Tomasz Kot, Garance Marillier, Toni Garrn, Benedict Samuel, Annabel Mullion, and Olga Boladz, each contributing to the anthology’s diverse vignettes.
The cast’s commitment elevates the often underdeveloped characters, though critics noted the limited screen time for some actors hindered deeper engagement.
Plot: Interwoven Tales of a Tech-Dependent Future
Set in a near-futuristic Earth, Warning explores the consequences of humanity’s dependence on omniscient technology through loosely connected stories, tied together by a global storm and a meteor shower that disrupt electronics, leading to deadly outcomes. The central thread follows David (Jane), a maintenance worker adrift in orbit after an accident, reflecting on his life as his oxygen dwindles. His existential crisis frames the anthology, with his musings—“It’s easier to live in an illusion than reality”—encapsulating the film’s critique of technological escapism.
- Claire’s Crisis: Claire (Eve) spirals when her “God 2.0” prayer device fails, exposing her spiritual emptiness in a darkly funny take on faith and tech.
- Charlie’s Obsolescence: Charlie (Everett), an aging companion robot, faces decommissioning, highlighting society’s discardment of outdated tech.
- Nina and Liam’s Divide: Nina (Wallis) confronts her immortal in-laws’ prejudice, exploring tensions between mortality and engineered longevity.
- Anna’s Stalker: Anna (Bunbury) is haunted by a creepy electronic figure, delivering the film’s most horror-adjacent segment.
- A brief final segment with Charlotte Le Bon and Aleksandra Zagrodzka underscores the looming planetary catastrophe, tying the stories to a broader apocalyptic warning.
The film’s structure, interweaving these tales without a cohesive resolution, has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for feeling incomplete. A global storm and technological glitches serve as the connective tissue, but the lack of narrative closure left some viewers wanting more.
Director and Creative Vision
Agata Alexander, a music video director making her feature debut, crafts Warning as a low-key, thoughtful sci-fi dystopia, avoiding the genre’s typical action-heavy spectacle. Her collaboration with producers Cybill Lui Eppich and the screenplay team creates a film that prioritizes ideas over polish, drawing comparisons to Black Mirror and Wild Tales. The Poland-shot production features sleek visuals, with good but modest visual effects and a widescreen aesthetic that belies its indie budget. Jagna Dobesz’s production design, including Rorschach-like patterns in key scenes, adds subtle intrigue, while editing smoothly blends the disparate threads. Alexander’s focus on philosophical musings—questioning faith, immortality, and human connection—aims to provoke thought, though critics noted the film’s concepts often outshine its execution.
Why It Matters
Warning enters the sci-fi anthology space at a time when Black Mirror has set a high bar, offering a grittier, indie alternative. Its exploration of technology’s role in amplifying human isolation resonates in a post-COVID world, where AI and digital dependence are increasingly scrutinized. The film’s diverse cast and ambitious scope highlight underrepresented voices in sci-fi, with Alexander’s debut showcasing a promising new talent. However, its mixed reception—30% on Rotten Tomatoes (10 reviews, 4.8/10 average) and 53/100 on Metacritic (5 critics)—reflects a divide: some praise its “great concepts” and “gorgeous vibe,” while others find it “disjointed” and “half-baked.”
With a runtime of 85 minutes, Warning appeals to fans of cerebral sci-fi who enjoy open-ended narratives, but its lack of payoff frustrated mainstream audiences expecting tighter storytelling. Its modest box office and streaming availability on platforms like Hulu and Tubi make it an accessible, if polarizing, watch for genre enthusiasts. The film’s relevance lies in its cautionary take on technology’s seductive illusions, a theme that feels prescient as AI and automation continue to shape society.
Where to Catch Up
Warning is available to stream on Hulu, rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Fandango at Home, or watch for free with ads on Tubi TV. For context, explore Black Mirror on Netflix for similar tech-dystopian themes or Wild Tales (2014) for anthology-style storytelling. The film’s trailer, available on IMDb or Lionsgate’s YouTube channel, offers a glimpse of its eerie tone and interconnected tales. Fans can dive into discussions on Reddit’s r/movies or r/horror communities, where viewers debate its concepts and execution. For more on Agata Alexander’s style, check her music video work online, which hints at her visual flair. Follow Lionsgate or Signature Entertainment on social media for updates on related sci-fi projects.
Warning is a flawed but ambitious indie sci-fi gem that dares to ask big questions, even if it doesn’t always answer them. Perfect for those who love their sci-fi cerebral, unsettling, and open to interpretation.
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Sources: Roger Ebert, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Wikipedia, MovieInsider, Heaven of Horror, Josh at the Movies, Variety, Eye for Film, FilmAffinity, Movies and Mania, Reddit, and posts on X.
