My opinion on this episode is definitely an unpopular one. Metalhead is the black and white episode of Black Mirror's fourth season - and its first foray into this visual style. Definitely the episode that, during the fourth seasons's marketing, I had no idea what Metalhead was going to be about; but honestly the one I was most excited to see. Was I disappointed? Well let's have a look at Metalhead first.
We follow Bella, a woman who along with two male companions, Clarke and Anthony, attempt to break into a secluded warehouse in the post-apocalyptic British countryside. However, there they awaken a robotic life-form: a dog-like killing machine which, after taking out Clarke and Anthony, engages Bella in an ultimately fatal chase through the desolate post-apocalyptic landscape in a race for survival.
Let me get this out the way first. Metalhead may be the Black Mirror episode that terrified me the most. The technology being referenced here - upon research on my own part - is the Boston Dynamics dog-style robots. Many people's issues with Metalhead seem to be how vague it is. But that's what I loved. It demands you to research technology you may not even know is being developed. Charlie Brooker is asking a simple yet wholly frightening question: what if robot dogs took over the world? If it's anything like Metalhead's world, I don't ever want to know.
I have to highlight Maxine Peake. At 41 minutes, she is in almost every frame of this episode, and we feel every emotion along with her. Every bit of fear and tension she feels, through her brilliant performance we feel it to. Furthermore, this has to be Black Mirror's most visually arresting episode. The black and white style is so evocative and paired with the desolate British country, it just looks harrowing. The episode also uses the music of Penderecki, and it is truly spine-tingling.
Metalhead is set to be Black Mirror's most divisive episode. I understand the criticism to an extent, however my appreciation for this episodes boldness - having almost no dialogue - and stunning visuals hasn't been wavered by the many fans who dislike it. Definitely Black Mirror's most experimental episode to date, and I commend Charlie Brooker for taking a risk - to rewarding effect.
We follow Bella, a woman who along with two male companions, Clarke and Anthony, attempt to break into a secluded warehouse in the post-apocalyptic British countryside. However, there they awaken a robotic life-form: a dog-like killing machine which, after taking out Clarke and Anthony, engages Bella in an ultimately fatal chase through the desolate post-apocalyptic landscape in a race for survival.
Let me get this out the way first. Metalhead may be the Black Mirror episode that terrified me the most. The technology being referenced here - upon research on my own part - is the Boston Dynamics dog-style robots. Many people's issues with Metalhead seem to be how vague it is. But that's what I loved. It demands you to research technology you may not even know is being developed. Charlie Brooker is asking a simple yet wholly frightening question: what if robot dogs took over the world? If it's anything like Metalhead's world, I don't ever want to know.
I have to highlight Maxine Peake. At 41 minutes, she is in almost every frame of this episode, and we feel every emotion along with her. Every bit of fear and tension she feels, through her brilliant performance we feel it to. Furthermore, this has to be Black Mirror's most visually arresting episode. The black and white style is so evocative and paired with the desolate British country, it just looks harrowing. The episode also uses the music of Penderecki, and it is truly spine-tingling.
Metalhead is set to be Black Mirror's most divisive episode. I understand the criticism to an extent, however my appreciation for this episodes boldness - having almost no dialogue - and stunning visuals hasn't been wavered by the many fans who dislike it. Definitely Black Mirror's most experimental episode to date, and I commend Charlie Brooker for taking a risk - to rewarding effect.