11 Freaky Sci-Fi Hive Minds From Motion pictures and TV

In Pluribus, Apple TV’s new sci-fi series, an alien virus takes over Earth and connects each human right into a singular hive thoughts—except for Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and a handful of others throughout the globe. When a determined Carol reaches out to a couple of them, she’s shocked by how unbothered they’re. 

The brand new approach of issues is harmonious and peaceable, they are saying, and so they’re dismissive when she unleashes what she thinks is a fact bomb on the room. Everybody else on the earth, she argues, is now “some sort of fucking pod individual.” It doesn’t matter how good and sort they appear to be, she says. This case will not be proper: “I’ve seen this film. We’ve all seen this film, and we all know it doesn’t finish properly.”

We are inclined to agree with Carol, who’s messy, hot-tempered, sarcastic, and deeply relatable in the best way she’s reacting to all of the poisonous positivity. However what, precisely, has Carol watched in her lifetime to assist elevate the various crimson flags she’s detected?

Listed here are 11 potential candidates—together with a number of TV reveals, too—all exhibiting a hive thoughts (or comparable) state of affairs that doesn’t finish properly.

Invasion of the Physique Snatchers

The 1956 authentic gave rise to the time period “pod individual” that Carol makes use of, a direct reference to the alien seed pods that seem in Don Siegel’s movie and begin coming out impassive (however in any other case bodily equivalent) copies of the individuals they’re changing. The 1978 remake ups the ante by making the humanoids emit a robust shriek each time they encounter somebody who’s dared to retain their individuality and resist the transformation.

Invaders From Mars

Each the 1953 authentic and the 1986 remake think about alien invaders deciding thoughts management—achieved utilizing clandestinely affixed mind implants—is the easiest way to take management of the planet. It’s not fairly a hive thoughts, however the aim remains to be that no person who’s human needs to be allowed to assume for themselves.

The World’s Finish

Edgar Wright’s 2013 comedy follows a middle-aged ne’er-do-well named Gary (Simon Pegg, who co-wrote with Wright) attempting to recapture his pub-crawling glory within the city the place he grew up, along with his noticeably much less stunted associates alongside for the journey. Nevertheless, what might have been a sentimental story of bonding and redemption takes a really wild sci-fi flip when the group discovers the city has been overtaken by “the Community,” an alien hive thoughts that’s been busily changing human beings with lifelike androids as a part of its invasion scheme. Very similar to Wright’s zombie story Shaun of the Lifeless, this one really has a cheerful, “that is how we reside now and it’s OK” form of ending.

Cell

This 2016 function primarily based on a Stephen King novel (he additionally co-wrote the screenplay) imagines that everybody utilizing a cellphone is affected by a mysterious pulse that turns them into frenzied killers. The “Phoners” in flip begin emitting the heart beat, which permits them to speak with one another—a step up from being common previous zombies, however not a lot—as they chase after the few survivors.

The College

In 1998, on the top of Scream fever, that movie’s screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, penned this highschool sci-fi story, with Robert Rodriguez directing. It has an all-star forged (Elijah Wooden, Jordana Brewster, Salma Hayek, Josh Hartnett) dealing with off with an alien parasite that wriggles into human brains and makes them obey their “queen,” whose id is unmasked in act three after a number of misdirects.

Star Trek: The Subsequent Era

Pluribus reveals Carol’s consolation TV viewing alternative in a later episode; no spoilers, nevertheless it’s not Star Trek. Nevertheless, if she ever acquired round to binging The Subsequent Era (season two but additionally the top of three and begin of 4 specifically, in addition to 1996’s Star Trek: First Contact), she’d know rather a lot about hive minds, particularly their starvation for assimilation and the notion that “resistance is futile.”

Rick and Morty

Solely Rick Sanchez can be daring or sexy sufficient thus far a hive thoughts. He reconnects along with his ex, Unity, within the completely titled season two episode “Auto Erotic Assimilation,” then once more in season seven’s “Air Power Wong”—which makes issues extra dire when Earth turns into Unity’s subsequent goal. Nevertheless, the actual delight of those episodes is the harebrained notion of attempting to have a relationship with a hive thoughts whose offshoots encompass you 24/7. Carol’s state of affairs is a bit completely different on Pluribus, however she will actually respect the distinctive invasion-of-privacy feeling that Rick experiences, in addition to the odd sensation of talking to at least one individual and your complete world on the identical time.

Slither

James Gunn’s 2006 directorial debut might not have screamed “this man will as soon as be operating an enormous chunk of Hollywood,” nevertheless it may make you scream a number of different issues, particularly if slug-based horror provides you the heebie jeebies. Slither imagines an alien parasite crash-lands, selects a number to steer its hive thoughts (Michael Rooker), then units a ugly plan in movement to contaminate your complete neighborhood. It’s a type of hive-mind tales—The College is one other instance—that imagines should you kill the principle mind, you’ll additionally eradicate everybody who’s obeying its orders. This doesn’t appear to be the case in Pluribus, however we’ll belief in Carol to determine that out.

Starship Troopers

Talking of major brains, who might neglect the grotesque “Mind Bug” slurping the gray matter out of human skulls and utilizing that absorbed data to raised direct the large swarms of big bugs taking up Earth’s comparatively pitiful and independent-minded military? Luckily, humanity wins this spherical, and the Mind Bug finds its personal mind being picked for particulars on methods to stop Arachnic incursions. Wish to know extra? Watch Starship Troopers.

Part IV

Saul Bass’ 1974 function is each artistically progressive and exceedingly creepy-crawly, imagining that ants—already famed for his or her coordinated work ethic—activate humanity after a bit nudge from the cosmos. Their final aim will not be humanity’s extinction however moderately its obedience, and Part IV’s eerily expressive insect close-up images, mixed with the ants’ swarm-and-destroy persuasive ways, simply may persuade you they’ll succeed.

The Stuff

I hope Carol has seen The Stuff. I hope everybody has seen The Stuff, frankly. That approach, if a situation arises that even remotely resembles Larry Cohen’s unhinged 1985 sci-fi horror comedy, individuals will know to not eat something that resembles dessert topping that abruptly bubbles from the bottom, irrespective of how scrumptious and curiously addictive it is perhaps. It could not create a hive thoughts, precisely, however as soon as the Stuff will get inside you, all you possibly can take into consideration is gobbling extra of it, and ensuring everybody round you is doing the identical.

New episodes of Pluribus arrive Fridays on Apple TV.

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