Staff Reports
In the case of one upcoming movie, conservatives may be feeling a bit uneasy. On Wednesday, independent entertainment company A24 released the official trailer for “Civil War,” a feature film scheduled for release in spring 2024. The trailer depicted a full-blown civil war in the United States, complete with secession and intense action scenes.
Hollywood to Release Sinister 'Civil War' Movie Just Before 2024 Election via @WestJournalism https://t.co/cFc8mI3oQo
— Outdoor Alchemy (@Alchemist196) December 15, 2023
Directed by Alex Garland, “Civil War” is set in a contemporary, present-day setting, with no futuristic elements in sight. The trailer opens with a series of urgent radio announcements, detailing secession, military activities, and warnings from the White House. Then we meet Kirsten Dunst’s character, a war correspondent, and her companions as they navigate a clothing store during the chaos of the civil war. The male companion, shocked by the store’s serene atmosphere, asks a young woman if she’s aware of the “pretty huge civil war going on all across America.” Her response? “We just try to stay out. With what we see on the news, seems like it’s for the best.”
As the trailer progresses, things take a darker turn. The American flag, featuring the traditional 50 stars, is shown with two larger stars, hinting at a divided nation. The “three-term president” played by Nick Offerman makes an appearance, announcing a great defeat for the “Western Forces” of Texas and California. One journalist questions the president about the use of airstrikes against American citizens, while Dunst and her companions come face to face with a menacing soldier. The trailer ends with the words “ALL. EMPIRES. FALL.” appearing one by one, followed by Offerman’s haunting words: “One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty. And justice for all. God Bless America.”
Some expressed suspicion about the film’s timing, given America’s current political climate. Others called out the apparent hypocrisy of Hollywood, which often accuses Trump supporters of inciting threats to democracy but then releases a mass-distributed movie about civil war in America. And some saw a pattern emerging with other recent films, like the Obama-produced “Leave the World Behind,” which depicts a cyberattack that plunges America into chaos. It seems like Hollywood likes to make movies that envision the destruction of America and civil war.
In a year that has left many Americans feeling anxious and uncertain about the future, it’s no surprise that the “Civil War” trailer struck a nerve. While it’s important not to jump to conclusions about the film’s plot and its connection to modern politics, one can’t help but feel that its depiction of civil war hits a little too close to home.
As conservatives watch this trailer with trepidation, we are reminded of a lesson from history. The quote from the character John Quincy Adams in the 1997 film “Amistad” may have made for dramatic entertainment, but it never actually happened. Sensible people who understand the gravity of civil war don’t invite it with casual and high-minded invitations to “let it come.”
