The War of the Worlds (2005)
Director: David Michael Latt
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Rhett Giles, Andy Lauer
Unique Angle: A low-budget, modern-day adaptation that leans heavily into survival horror.
Checklist Comparison
| Checklist Item | Included? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tripods | ❌ No | The Martians’ machines are not tripods but generic alien spacecraft. |
| Tentacled Martians | ❌ No | The Martians appear as humanoid aliens with no tentacles. |
| Red Weed | ❌ No | No mention or depiction of the red weed. |
| Black Smoke | ❌ No | Black smoke is absent; the Martians rely on basic laser weapons. |
| Heat Ray | ⚠️ Sort of | There are lasers that resemble a heat ray, but they lack the scale and impact of the original. |
| Snatching and Feeding on Humans | ❌ No | The Martians do not harvest humans for sustenance. |
| Humming Sound | ❌ No | No iconic sounds are associated with the alien technology. |
| The Curate | ⚠️ Sort of | There is a character resembling the Curate in behavior, though not directly named as such. |
| The Artilleryman | ⚠️ Sort of | A character with some survivalist tendencies appears but is less developed than in the book. |
| Martians Destroyed by Microorganisms | ❌ No | The Martians are defeated by human intervention via a rabies vaccine, diverging from the original. |
| Historical Setting | ❌ No | The setting is updated to modern America with little resemblance to the original era. |
| Societal Collapse | ⚠️ Sort of | Some scenes attempt to show societal breakdown, but the low budget limits its impact. |
| No Human Victory | ❌ No | Humanity directly intervenes by infecting the Martians, altering the original theme. |
| Atmosphere of Horror and Helplessness | ⚠️ Sort of | While there is an attempt to show horror, the poor effects and acting undermine it. |
| Thunder Child (Naval Resistance) | ❌ No | No equivalent of the Thunder Child or military resistance is depicted. |
Observations and Analysis
Strengths:
- There is a faint attempt to include the Curate and Artilleryman archetypes.
- The inclusion of a microbial-based resolution aligns loosely with the original, though it is altered by human intervention.
Weaknesses:
- Almost all iconic elements of the original are either omitted or poorly executed.
- The Martians and their technology lack the distinctiveness and terror of Wells’ vision.
- The low-budget production values make it difficult to take the film seriously.
Creative Deviations:
- The rabies vaccine plotline suggests humanity’s direct intervention, which is a significant departure from Wells’ theme of natural forces prevailing.
Faithfulness Rating
Inspired By
This adaptation is loosely inspired by The War of the Worlds, borrowing the basic plotline but failing to capture the core elements or themes of the original.
Verdict
I’m afraid I did not care for this one too much. The Asylum’s 2005 version lacks the iconic features and depth of H.G. Wells’ story, offering little beyond a frustrating viewing experience.