Chaos Walking 2021

As the clock struck 2257 AD, the planet New World was plagued by the pervasive affliction known as the Noise, a curious condition that rendered every individual’s thoughts and emotions visible to all others. The aftermath of a brutal civil war left only half of the male population standing, while the native aliens’ ferocity had wiped out the female colonists altogether. Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland), an inhabitant of Prentisstown, dwelled among his adoptive fathers, Ben (Demian Bichir) and Cillian Boyd (Kurt Sutter), as well as a small coterie of fellow residents, including the town’s spiritual leader, Aaron (David Oyelowo), the stalwart mayor David Prentiss (Mads Mikkelsen), and his son Davy (Nick Jonas). The arrival of a stray spaceship, its communication with the First Colony severed, sent shockwaves through the community. A reconnaissance mission was dispatched to investigate, but fate had other plans – the scout ship crashed, leaving only ruin in its wake.

As Todd went about his daily routine, he stumbled upon an unexpected anomaly: someone pilfering from the town’s stores. His pursuit of the thief led him to the very site where the scout ship lay shattered, a discovery that would send reverberations throughout Prentisstown. Though Todd initially sought to keep this revelation under wraps, his thoughts and emotions were inadvertently broadcasted to the other men, prompting them to converge on the crash site with malicious intent. Yet, upon their arrival, they found no signs of life. In the solitude of his own thoughts, Todd crossed paths with Viola (Daisy Ridley), the sole survivor of the catastrophic incident. This chance encounter would forever alter the trajectory of his existence, for he had never before laid eyes on a female – a species thought to be extinct.

As the men of Prentisstown apprehended Viola and whisked her away to the mayor’s abode, Todd bore witness to the cruel fate that befell this enigmatic newcomer. There, under the watchful eye of Mayor Prentiss, Viola was schooled on the peculiarities of New World’s Noise and the devastation it had wrought upon their planet. While Prentiss departed to rally his cohorts, he entrusted Davy with the task of keeping a vigilant eye on Viola – an instruction that ultimately proved futile, as the young man unwittingly triggered one of her gadgets, inadvertently unleashing a barrage of sparks that served as a catalyst for Viola’s daring escape. It was in this moment that Ben imparted wisdom to Todd, hinting at the existence of another settlement, Farbranch, where he assured him Viola would find solace and sanctuary.

As the dust settles on the open road, Viola’s wheels screech to a halt as she abandons her motorcycle in a cloud of smoke, leaving Todd hot on her heels - literally - as he gallops into view astride one of his trusty horses. Meanwhile, Prentiss and his cohorts arrive at the farm, their demands for Viola’s return growing increasingly shrill as they brand her a spy. The atmosphere is electric with tension as Cillian meets his untimely demise at Davy’s hands, prompting Ben to reluctantly join forces with the group. As chaos erupts, Todd finally closes in on Viola, and the two set off together on a perilous journey towards Farbranch, accompanied by Todd’s loyal canine companion Manchee.

As they traverse the unforgiving terrain, Viola gradually reveals her extraordinary backstory - that of a survivor from a massive Colony Ship carrying over 4,000 passengers, whose parents met their untimely demise during the treacherous voyage to New World. In turn, Todd confesses his own tragic ignorance regarding his true parents, leaving Viola to wonder at the mysteries that shroud this troubled youth’s past. Their path soon intersects with a curious alien native, which Todd instinctively seeks to destroy - only for Viola to intervene, her instincts telling her that this creature poses no threat.

Their odyssey eventually brings them to Farbranch, a settlement teeming with men, women, and children - all of whom greet Todd’s arrival with hostility, their animosity fueled by his connection to the despised Prentisstown. As they settle into the community, Todd stumbles upon his mother’s long-lost diary, but its secrets remain locked until Viola kindly offers to decipher its cryptic contents for him. The revelation that shatters the fragile calm is nothing short of devastating: the women who perished at the hands of the native aliens were, in fact, brutally slaughtered by Prentiss and his cohorts - a stark reminder that Todd’s entire world has been built upon a foundation of lies.

Enraged by this stunning betrayal, Ben attempts to reason with Todd, urging him to surrender Viola to her would-be captors. But Todd remains steadfast in his refusal, his anger towards Ben simmering just below the surface. In a daring move, Ben seizes an opportunity to distract Prentiss and his men, using Viola’s likeness as bait to facilitate their escape. Aaron gives hot pursuit, determined to recapture the fugitive pair. As they flee, Todd’s anguish reaches a boiling point when Aaron cold-bloodedly dispatches Manchee - leaving Todd feeling lost and betrayed once more.

The following day, Viola and Todd venture into the desolate remains of the initial colony ship, seeking to dispatch a distress signal to the distant settlers. However, their efforts are thwarted by the satellite’s crippling damage, prompting Todd to embark on a solitary mission to repair it. Meanwhile, Prentiss and his cohorts arrive on the scene, with Todd opting to surrender himself in order to safeguard Ben’s life, as Prentiss holds him hostage.

As the standoff unfolds, Aaron secretly infiltrates the colony ship, intent on eliminating Viola; however, she counteracts this threat by employing one of her innovative gadgets, engulfing Aaron in flames. Todd reappears at the pivotal moment, only for Prentiss to take aim and strike down Ben, leaving Todd devastated.

Todd hastens to Ben’s side, secretly bestowing upon him a vital knife as Prentiss remains oblivious to this subtle turn of events. The ensuing battle between Todd and Prentiss is marked by the latter’s clever utilization of illusions, as he creates multiple versions of himself to confound and disorient Todd. Seizing the opportunity, Todd conjures vivid images of his mother and every woman, taunting Prentiss with a scathing diatribe, branding him a craven coward.

Just as Prentiss appears poised to strike the final blow, Viola intervenes, launching herself at Prentiss with unyielding ferocity. The outcome seems decisive, as Prentiss appears to plummet towards his demise. As the dust settles, the colony ship materializes in the sky, prompting Davy and the remaining remnants of Prentisstown’s militia to beat a hasty retreat.

Todd awakens within the medical bay of the colony ship, miraculously restored to full health. He and Viola then set out to greet the other settlers, their journey marked by a sense of hope and renewal as they take their first steps towards rebuilding and rebirth.