Rent The Day (2011)

Fantastic Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - The Day review by GI

A post-apocalyptic thriller that is a real gem. One of those films you occasionally come across that grabs you and keeps you watching throughout. Shot with a washed out palette, almost in black & white, to highlight a ravaged world and following a group of five young survivors as they make their way across the wilderness looking for food and trying to stay alive. With one of them feeling unwell they shelter for the night in a ramshackle old farmhouse but it's a trap! I don't want to give too much away here suffice to say this is a gutsy thrill ride of a film. The cause of the dying world is not revealed and in many ways it's similar to The Road (2009) and could even be set in the same time and events, but the environment seems to be eroding and so the film hints at a climate crisis. Food and water is scarce and the land holds big dangers. There are elements of Assault On Precinct 13 (1976) in the way this story unfolds and the relatively unknown cast are all excellent including Shawn Ashmore (recognisable from the X-Men films) and Dominic Monaghan (from Lord Of The Rings) and Ashley Bell is outstanding as one of the group with a dark secret. A superb film and one that is definitely worth seeking out, it's a great story, violent and tense and well as being something quite different and clever.