This disaster movie tells a story of a world in which the UK is hit with the harrowing effects of climate change. Jodie Comer stars in The End We Start From as a young mother with a newborn baby, struggling to cope after heavy rainfall causes London to flood.
A Rotten Tomatoes review explains that the film is a “heart-wrenching” and “harrowing” watch about survival and the struggles of climate change refugees. One review states: “The End We Start From presents the purest form of dystopia.
“It’s not an Orwell or Atwood riff.
“Rather, it’s ‘imagine if the current state of Britain was even worse’: overflow camps, social disorder as people kill for supplies, things like that. The film’s world just feels so real.”
With flooding spreading across Britain, the film shows a full-blown crisis with food supplies and accommodation for the displaced in short supply. The central character and her husband have no choice but to flee their home and leave their baby in the care of his grandparents.
Events soon take a tragic turn, and the couple are forced to the fight not only for their own survival, but also that of their son. Another viewer said: “This dystopian thriller explores the truth about surviving, showing both the dark and scary with glimmers of joy, laughter, and humanity.
“This was emotional, and I felt everything as if I was right there – I basically had my arms crossed the whole time out of stress. Unsurprisingly, Jodie Comer’s performance is brilliant. I also really liked the prevalence of water, the sounds that at times felt overwhelming (pounding rain, screaming crowds, crying babies, etc.), and the creative angles and use of reflections.”
Starring alongside the Killing Eve actress is Joel Fry, who plays her husband ‘R’, and Benedict Cumberbatch appears in a brief scene. The survival story was adapted to screen by Alice Birch from the 2017 novel The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter.
The rights for the book had been acquired by Benedict Cumberbatch’s company SunnyMarch, alongside Hera Pictures – explaining his cameo. While the movie’s themes are fictional and based on a dystopian idea, for many they felt it served as a warning sign of what the future of the country could look like.
One person said: “A beautiful, yet scary and enlightening piece on terror, loss, love and movement. This shows a picture of what life is already like for some and could become likely for many. Jodie Comer is fantastic and is supported by an excellent cast.”
While another viewer wrote: “Jodie Comer soley is the reason to see this brief yet impactful film – it is one that you feel distant from yet so understandably close. It is sprinkled with loss and disbelief in humanity yet recovered by the kindred souls that come together throughout with beautifully displayed friendship. It starts with a feeling of desolation but ends with a sense of renewal.”
With a high overall rating of 87 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that viewers are touched by the impact of the 2023 film. Discover for yourself, as The End We Start From is available to watch now on Netflix.