Review of Voyagers (2021) by Rachelread — 14 Apr 2021

I was excited for this movie originally because futuristic movies offer us a chance to see that things can be different. In spite of this being a futuristic sci-fi where the children are bred with no parents and no knowledge of earth or its history of sexism and racism— it seems they still bring those ideals into space, suggesting that discrimination and prejudice are a raw human instinct, which they’re not.

It also perpetuated the idea that white men are naturally instinctual rulers. The film centered a mainly white cast, or at least all the main players with any influence were white. The kids who get bullied and end up getting killed just happen to be BIPOC.

I’m sure that was a “coincidence”. The representation in the movie was unrealistic and the BIPOC were basically used as props for the white main cast. One specific thing bothered me as well. There was a part in the film where Jack (the antagonist) stopped taking the blue liquid that suppressed their emotions and so he started to feel horny for the first time and sexually assaults Sayla “out of male instinct” the movie makes it seem.

Like it’s a males natural calling to just take whatever he wants and that women are just vessels for male pleasure. There’s a part in the film where Christopher (the protagonist) sees that Jack is going to go and rape Sayla so he goes to her first and makes Jack believe that’s he’s claimed her and therefore Jack has to leave her alone.

And Jack says, “you can’t tell me what I can and can’t do. I can do whatever I want.” (Referring to Sayla as the object here that he’ll do whatever he wants to) And all Chris says in response is something along the lines of, “she’s mine.

” I don’t specifically remember what he said, but it was along those lines of male ownership and dominance. When there was a perfect opportunity for Chris to say, “No. I can’t tell you what to do.

But when it comes to Sayla, she gets to decide what she wants to when it comes to her body.” A lot of impressionable teens will watch this and I think it sends the wrong message. It’s 2021 and it’s time we tackle big issues that are really happening and it’s important that representation is realistic and that racism and sexism are addressed.

Something this film had the opportunity to do, but did not.