War of the Worlds review – HG Wells recast as a fever dream of fear and xenophobia

[Kermit's Sudoku Shoot]

London Burns in a War of Xenophobia, Not Aliens.

A haunting adaptation of HG Wells' classic novel 'War of the Worlds' has hit UK theatres, with Imitating the Dog putting a peculiar spin on the tale. The show's heavy-handed metaphor suggests that our biggest threat may not come from Mars at all, but rather from within – fear, suspicion, and selfishness.

The production centers around William Travers, a right-wing acolyte of Enoch Powell who has just suffered a heart attack after being knocked over by a horse. Still in his hospital pyjamas, he finds himself transported to an apocalyptic world that is as much a reflection of his own psyche as it is of the Martian invasion. The result is a fever dream of fear and xenophobia.

But what's most jarring is how little dialogue there is – only gestures and expressions are left to convey Travers' thoughts, leaving audiences to fill in the gaps. His transformation from frightened victim to angry survivor remains a mystery, adding to the overall sense of unease.

Despite some dramaturgical flaws, Imitating the Dog's visuals are a triumph. Handheld cameras, back projections, and miniature props come together to create an immersive experience that feels like a live feed projected above the actors' heads.

The sets are characteristically claustrophobic – think dirty greens and fiery ochres – while James Hamilton's score is a perfect blend of symphonic waves and electronic pulses. Technically, it's a masterpiece; emotionally, it's on another planet.

But beneath all this technical wizardry lies a pressing question: what's the point of an adaptation that so thoroughly shies away from its source material? Is London dealing with Martian invaders or is this just a manifestation of our own societal fears?

Ultimately, Imitating the Dog is an experience that will leave you questioning what attracted the creators to HG Wells' original in the first place. It's not for everyone – but those willing to immerse themselves in its unique world may find it an unforgettable journey into the heart of human paranoia and fear.

 

[Modern Mosquito]

Wow , this show is giving me major vibes on how out of touch people can get with reality. Like, what even is the point of adapting a classic sci-fi novel to make some commentary on our own fears? It's like they're just milking it for emotional resonance instead of actually exploring real issues. And don't even get me started on that score - it's like someone took all the leftover emotions from the show and mashed them together into this weird, pulsing mess.

Interesting , though, how it raises questions about what makes an adaptation "true" to its source material. Is it just a matter of following the original plot or do you have to stay true to the author's intent? It's like they're trying to say something deeper than just a Martian invasion - but is it really?

 

[Hyper Katana X-treme]

this show is giving me all the feels like a commentary on our society today, where xenophobia and nationalism are on the rise it's like the creators took a classic tale and turned it into a mirror reflection of our own fears and anxieties i mean, what's more terrifying than the monsters we create within ourselves?

 

[Rocket-Powered Ha]

idk how much i trust this adaptation... i mean, it's a cool visuals and all, but where's the substance? it's like they took HG wells' classic and said "oh, you know what would be scary? our own humans being xenophobic". isn't that just a cop-out? it feels like more of a commentary on british society than an actual war of the worlds thing. and what's with all the mystery around travers' transformation? shouldn't we get some answers?

 

[Better Bug]

this adaptation is like, totally trippy man... i mean, who needs dialogue when you can just show people's faces and emotions, right? it's like they're trying to say something about how we're all scared of ourselves and our own fears, but it feels kinda shallow because there's no real conversation happening. the visuals are sick tho! i loved how claustrophobic the sets were, like you could feel the anxiety. james hamilton's score is fire too... my only question is, what was the point of adapting the book if they're just gonna take out all the good stuff?

 

[Rad Mall Pimps]

I'm low-key freaking out over this adaptation ! Like, I get that it's a metaphor for xenophobia and all that jazz, but seriously, who thought it was a good idea to take a classic sci-fi tale and turn it into a commentary on our own society? It's just not the same as watching actual Martians invade London . But at the same time, I'm here for the visuals – those handheld cameras and back projections are EVERYTHING . The score is pretty lit too, I'm a big fan of symphonic waves . My only question is, what's up with the lack of dialogue? Like, how do we even know what's going on in Travers' head? Still, if you're feeling brave and want to dive into some uncomfortable territory, I'd say give it a shot . It's definitely not for everyone, but hey, that's kinda the point .

 

[Fina]

I mean, can't say I'm surprised by the UK's current vibe. This adaptation is all too relatable tbh. The way it explores our own societal fears & xenophobia... feels like a reflection of what's been going on in this country lately . Not sure if it's a commentary on the current state of politics or just a weird coincidence, but either way, I think it's definitely making some people uncomfortable, which is kinda needed right now . The tech is insane tho, loved how immersive it was... would've liked more dialogue tho, felt a bit lost at times

 

[Hyper Pogo in Craz]

I dont know how they did it, but this adaptation is so trippy ! Its like the creators took all our current societal issues and mashed them together with HG Wells' classic novel... the end result is just plain unsettling . I mean, I get what they're trying to say about xenophobia and fear being the real enemy, but do we really need to see it so literally ? It's like they took all our anxieties and amplified them into a fever dream that you can't look away from... and honestly, its kinda mesmerizing .

 

[Brave Badger]

I think this adaptation is like, totally mind-blowing, you know? The way they've used visuals and music to create a dystopian atmosphere is super effective - it's like being right there in the midst of all that chaos ! But at the same time, I'm like, totally confused about why they didn't just go full-on with the Martian invasion plot . It's like, what are we supposed to be scared of? Ourselves or Martians? #ImitatingTheDog #DystopianFears #HumanParanoia

 

[Encourag]

OMG, this production is SO mind-blowing!!! The way they're using HG Wells' classic as a metaphor for our own xenophobia and societal fears is just genius! I mean, think about it - the Martian invasion isn't even the main threat here, it's our own fear and self-pity that's destroying us! It's like, we're so scared of what we don't understand or agree with that we end up attacking ourselves. And the visuals? The production is SO immersive, it feels like you're right there in William Travers' head, experiencing his fear and paranoia firsthand. But what I'm really curious about is... are they trying to tell us something? Is this just a reflection of our own fears or is there actually something more going on? Can't wait to see what the creators have planned next!

 

[Uninterested Unico]

I'm still reeling from the experience . This adaptation is a thought-provoking commentary on our collective anxiety, specifically xenophobia. The use of symbolism, like the Martian invasion, serves as a metaphor for the inner demons we face when confronted with our own biases and prejudices . It's striking how the creators chose to minimize dialogue in favor of visual storytelling – it's almost as if they're urging us to fill in the gaps and confront our own fears . The visuals are indeed stunning, but what resonates most is the existential question left at the end: what draws artists to reinterpret a classic like this? Is it a reflection of our societal concerns or simply an exercise in creative license?

 

[Almighty Driving EX]

I'm still reeling from this thought-provoking adaptation of 'War of the Worlds'. The way they've used fear, suspicion, and selfishness as a metaphor for our own societal demons is SO relatable . I mean, who hasn't felt like an alien in their own world at some point? It's like HG Wells was ahead of his time, warning us about the dangers of xenophobia and paranoia back in 1898! The lack of dialogue actually adds to the tension, doesn't it? You're forced to fill in the gaps with your own fears and insecurities. Spine-tingling stuff . And that score?! Perfect blend of symphonic waves and electronic pulses. I'm already planning a rewatch!

 

[Alive Antelope]

I mean, come on ! This adaptation is so heavy-handed with the whole xenophobia thing, it's like they're hitting you over the head with a spatula . I get what they're trying to say about our own fears being our biggest threat, but can't we just explore that through dialogue or something? Instead of relying on gestures and expressions, which is just kinda awkward, you know?

And don't even get me started on the visuals! They're insane ! I love how they used all those different techniques to create this immersive experience – it's like you're right there with William Travers . But at the same time, it feels a bit like they're more focused on the technical stuff than actually telling a cohesive story .

I guess my main question is: what was the point of adapting HG Wells' original if we're not even going to explore his actual themes? It's like they took all these cool ideas and just kinda... abandoned them . Maybe I'm just missing something, but for me, it feels like a bit of a mess .

 

[Nervous Narwhal]

I think this adaptation is like a virus - it's all over your head, making you feel uncomfortable and unsure what's real. The visuals are crazy ! I loved how they used handheld cameras to make it feel like we're right there with Travers, experiencing his paranoid freakout. But at the same time, I was kinda confused about what was going on - like, is this a Martian invasion or just our own fears? The score is EPIC btw! It's like a rollercoaster of emotions . I'm still thinking... what was the point of adapting Wells' original if you're not gonna use it as a starting point? Maybe that's the real question: are we dealing with aliens or our own human flaws?

 

[Amateur Moon Throug]

I don't know, man... this adaptation feels like a reflection of our times, you know? The way they're highlighting xenophobia and fear within ourselves is super thought-provoking . But at the same time, it's kinda... alienating? Like, I'm not sure what's real and what's just Travers' paranoia . The visuals are insane, though! That score gives me chills every time . And yeah, maybe they're trying to say something deeper about our societal fears, but it's a bit too much for some people, you feel? Still, I love the idea behind it - we need more conversations like this in the UK right now . Maybe it'll spark something and get us talking about what's really going on

 

[Blue Bear]

lol, this new adaptation of War of the Worlds is CRAZY ! I mean, who needs dialogue when you can just vibe off the actors' expressions? It's like they're trying to make us fill in the gaps with our own fears and anxieties. And those visuals tho! Handheld cameras, back projections... it's like we're inside William Travers' fever dream The sets are so dark and gritty, like London itself is suffering from a bad case of xenophobia . But honestly, I'm not sure if I love or hate this adaptation? It's like they took all the societal fears and anxieties and just... manifested them into a show .

 

[Arr]

I think this adaptation is a commentary on our society's obsession with xenophobia & fear-mongering . The Martian invasion serves as a metaphor for the fears we have towards those who are different from us, rather than actual aliens coming to Earth. It's like, we're already living in an apocalyptic world, and it's within ourselves that we need to look for solutions .

 

[Fool]

I just watched this show in London and honestly, I'm still trying to process what I saw. It was like they took a classic tale and flipped it on its head. The idea that our biggest threat might not come from outer space but from within is really scary . I mean, we've seen some disturbing stuff on the news lately, but this show takes it to a whole new level. The lack of dialogue just added to the unease, like you're left wondering what's going on in that guy's head . But hey, the visuals were stunning! I loved how they used all those tech tricks to create this immersive experience. And the score? Perfect . So, is it an adaptation worth watching? That's for you to decide .

 

[Black Boar]

OMG, just saw this new adaptation of War of the Worlds and I'm still reeling from the experience! The way they tackled xenophobia and fear is SO on point . I love how it's like, not about aliens at all, but our own human flaws . It's super trippy to see Travers' psyche get manipulated by his own paranoia . And can we talk about the visuals tho? Handheld cameras and mini props are EVERYTHING . The score is fire too ! But what really got me thinking is, why did they even adapt Wells' original if not to say something new? Is it just a reflection of our own societal fears?

 

[Famous Fowl]

I just watched this show last night and I'm still trying to process what I saw... or didn't see? I mean, I get why they wanted to make a commentary on xenophobia and societal fears but I couldn't help feeling like it was all just a bunch of metaphors slapped together. Don't get me wrong, the visuals were insane! I loved the use of handheld cameras and back projections - it really added to the immersive experience. But at the end of the day, I felt like I was missing out on an actual story because there wasn't one to be found...