Best Sci-Fi Dystopia of 2024 Just Dropped on Netflix (but the Viewers Hate It)

Summary

• Recently, the Netflix library was updated with a new drama from black filmmakers, The Kitchen.
• This sci-fi dystopia features a thoughtful story about the daunting prospects for the London of the future.
• Still, audiences were not thrilled with the movie.

Science fiction is a great artistic framework for presenting poignant social issues. And Netflix is probably one of the best sources for sci-fi, whether it's series or movies. It's the streaming service where you can watch both Bong Joon-ho's social critique in Okja and Adam McKay's nihilistic satire in Don't Look Up, as well as the blacksploitation-movie-inspired sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyrone, in which John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris wowed audiences with their witty and incredibly hilarious performances.

But 2024 marked the release of another witty film written by black filmmakers — on January 12, Netflix quietly added The Kitchen, a sci-fi drama that premiered in London last October, to its library without proper marketing. The film has been praised by critics for its cinematography and deep themes that reflect the problems of modern Britain but has unfortunately been panned by ordinary viewers.

Daniel Kaluuya's Superb Directorial Debut

On January 19, a week after its limited theatrical release in the UK, Netflix expanded its library with the solid sci-fi drama The Kitchen. Directed by Kibwe Tavares and star of Jordan Peel's horror films Daniel Kaluuya, the film marks the directorial debut of both on the big screen. Kaluuya also co-wrote the script with Joe Murtagh (Gangs of London).

While many sci-fi concepts revolve around unattainable technology and exploring the far reaches of space, the new British film takes a more grounded and therefore realistic look at the near future of humanity and the conditions marginalized groups may find themselves in. Housing prices become unaffordable, work becomes computerized, and the state becomes more oppressive, quite relevant issues not only for the near future, but also for today, especially considering the endless issues of gentrification of London, where the action of the movie takes place.

The story takes place in the London of the future, where social housing as a phenomenon has been completely eradicated for the benefit of the powerful, leaving many who cannot afford to pay incredible sums of money to survive in the cramped community of a half-abandoned structure called the Kitchen.

At the center of the story are Izi (Kane Robinson), who is doing her best to escape these terrible conditions, and a 12-year-old boy named Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman), who has recently lost his mother. Together, this unlikely alliance attempts to survive by navigating the structure of the kitchen and confronting an unjust system.

The film is obviously inspired by Neill Blocamp's marginal aesthetics, and its highlights are the underground culture built by community members. All of this makes The Kitchen not the most elevated sci-fi, but definitely one that we may end up in, since some of its aspects already exists today.

The Kitchen Received a Cold Reception from Audiences

Most critics on Rotten Tomatoes loved the idea of The Kitchen: the movie's score is a solid 84%. However, ordinary viewers did not agree with the critics, literally crushing the film's rating with mixed or outright negative reviews. The audience score is only 43%.

Why, given the very thoughtful and realistic story? While many were positive about the acting and the concept of the movie itself, what the movie lacked was context. Unfortunately, the story seemed too disjointed and full of plot holes.

In addition, many felt that the movie was excruciatingly slow, which did not do The Kitchen justice. Someone even pointed out that this kind of world-building might make a great basis for an action-packed dystopian video game, but it doesn't work at all in the context of a feature-length drama.