If You Liked the Movie “Silo”, Then There Is Another Movie You Should Definitely Watch.
Based on the books by Hugh Howey , Silo is the perfect sci-fi series for our time: pessimistic about government, optimistic about the potential of individual courage and heroism, and full of dark secrets. Each episode lifts the curtain on the mystery, hiding the truth from both the viewers and the inhabitants of Silo 18, a massive underground bunker that houses what remains of humanity after a global catastrophe, and it’s incredibly compelling to discover just how terrifying these secrets truly are. If you’re craving that kind of thrill, and you’ve already watched all the other dark sci-fi series that satisfy that need , there’s one film you need to watch: 2013’s Snowpiercer .
Why You Should Watch Snowpiercer After Silo
We also suggested the series as an alternative, but fans of “Silo” should also check out the feature film. The film is more dynamic and dark than the series, and Chris Evans’ performance as Curtis is simply stunning—a man haunted by his own secrets and willing to burn everything to the ground to uncover the deeper mysteries that have driven him to despair.
Like The Silo , Snowpiercer is set in a closed, self-sustaining environment capable of supporting the last remnants of humanity. After an attempt to reverse climate change accidentally triggers a new ice age, a small group of survivors find themselves on the Snowpiercer , a massive high-speed train that travels continuously around the world. As in The Silo, the train is divided into sections representing social strata: the poor are packed tightly together and living in squalor at the rear, while the closer you get to the locomotive, the richer and more prosperous everyone becomes. And, as in The Silo , a rebellion unleashes dark secrets hidden beneath the train, leading to one of history’s darkest revelations.
Snowpiercer so faithfully captures the tone, visual style, and atmosphere of Silo that one wonders if a train exists in the same universe, and whether Juliet (Rebecca Ferguson) will leap out of a manhole and watch in disbelief as the train rushes past. At the heart of both the series and the film is the firm belief that while people may temporarily tolerate a certain level of conformity and control in exchange for perceived security, they will always ultimately demand freedom—and truth. Watch Snowpiercer on Kanopy , Hoopla , Tubi , or Hulu , or rent it on Prime Video .
After “Silo” , there are other films worth watching.
Looking for more movies that will convince you the future might be worth saving, but won’t bring you any joy? You’re in luck: there are plenty. Here are some of the best alternatives after watching Snowpiercer .
I Am a Mother (2019)
Want more apocalyptic mysteries? Watch “I Am Mother.” In a modern-day bunker, a young woman is raised from an embryo by a sentient robot named Mother. Her daughter, nicknamed Daughter, is undergoing moral and ethical training in preparation for an upcoming exam and is forbidden from leaving the bunker due to a suspected “contamination” from outside. Hearing the woman’s plea for help through an airlock, Daughter lets the stranger in, setting off a chain of events that reveals the truth to her. As in “Silo,” Daughter soon learns that her life is not what she imagined and that she has fewer choices than she hoped. Watch ” I Am Mother” on Netflix .
Platform (2019)
If you appreciate the extended metaphor for existence and society in “Silo,” then this Spanish horror film is a perfect choice. A man named Goreng wakes up in cell 48 of a mysterious vertical prison. He soon learns that every day, a platform loaded with a huge amount of food descends from above in the center of the cell. The platform remains for two minutes, and the occupants of each cell can eat as much as they can during this time, but will be killed if they try to hoard the food. Every month, prisoners are randomly promoted to a new level—and the lower you are, the less likely it is that there will be enough food left to survive. It’s bleak, but as Goreng tries to find ways to counter it, the secrets of another vertical sci-fi puzzle are gradually revealed. Watch “The Platform” on Netflix .
High-Rise (2016)
The film “Power” in part explores the nature of civilization and the need for control—can people be trusted to govern themselves, or must they be lied to and manipulated to ensure survival? Based on the classic novel by J.G. Ballard , “High-Rise” tells the story of Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston), who moves into a luxury London apartment building in 1975. The building is the epitome of modern conveniences and is segregated by class—the rich live on the upper floors and the poor below. Over the next few months, the building’s mini-society collapses: utilities stop, the power supply becomes unreliable, and violence erupts, seemingly without outside intervention. It’s a paranoid tale set in a safehouse that’s actually a trap—a premise familiar to fans of “Power.” High-Rise is available to watch on Kanopy , Hoopla , or Tubi , or rent on Prime Video .
Logan’s Run (1976)
For Silo, the problem of overpopulation is a pressing one: controlling, limiting, and planning population. Logan’s Run (based on the novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson ) is a droll sci-fi take on this problem, set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity lives in a closed, computer-controlled city. Resource shortages and overpopulation are solved by the ritual execution of every citizen at age 30. Citizens are told they will be reborn afterward, a process ensured by “Sandmen” who hunt down anyone who resists their destiny. Sandman Logan 5 (Michael York) is ordered to find and destroy the secret location where the “runners” are hiding, and finds himself sentenced to execution as a grim motivation, after which he decides to try his luck as a Runner, seeking to discover what truly lies beyond the city’s dome. Watch Logan’s Run online on Hoopla , Plex , or Tubi , or rent it on Prime Video .
Soylent Green (1973)
Even if you’ve never seen it, you probably already know what Soylent Green is all about. Another classic 1970s sci-fi film dealing with overpopulation, Soylent Green (based on Harry Harrison’s 1966 novel) lacks the grim, cramped setting of Silo , but it shares the same sense of mounting, brutal pressure on a desperate, deceived population. In the 21st century, overpopulation and climate collapse have left society barely functioning: the elite live in fortified mansions maintained by slave labor, and millions survive on ultra-processed food from the Soylent Corporation. As in Silo , the investigation into the horrific truth falls to a dedicated cop, NYPD Detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston at his best). Watch Soylent Green on Prime Video .