Films Similar to Black Mirror

So you’ve binged watched all of the Black Mirror episodes. Sad it’s over? Or are you sad because the latest season wasn’t as good as the first Channel 4 production ones? OK, the latter is just me.

Black Mirror TV series is one of my favourites. It’s original, frightening and thought-provoking. The scenarios are gripping and tense. Watching the series on your tablet or laptop is not enough. You have to watch it on a high dynamic range television that is beautifully bright and has a high colourful display. It’ll truly make you really feel like you’re in their reality.

Each episode is a conversation starter; questioning if technology would ever destroy our lives similar to what Charlie Brooker creates. But to me, Black Mirror isn't about the future. It feels like everything is happening already. 

How many Instagram users confess they have major self-esteem issues? How many of us are addicted to our phones? How many CCTV footage films us on a 20-minute walk? And what the hell would we do without digital storage? Surely our memories couldn’t hold all of that information!

Black Mirror’s hidden messages are reflections of our reality. We shouldn't rely on technology so heavily and never question its effects.

But it’s not just the hidden messages that I adore. It’s the twists. Oooooh the feeling when a plot turns upside makes me shiver with excitement. That’s what makes Black Mirror so popular!

Writing this is making me want to re-re-watch my favourite episodes. Or even watch some films that I find similar to it.

If you also can’t get enough of Black Mirror I highly recommend these films! They either contain the best plot twists or they highlight damaging issues of technology. Let me know in the comments if you’ve seen any! There are so many films to choose from but these are my favourite!

Her

Definitely in my top ten of favourite films. My friends are probably sick of me mentioning this once again. It’s Wes Anderson meets Sophia Coppola meets J.J Abrams. The beautiful and vibrant imagery, alongside the melancholy romance, alongside the futuristic environment, is everything I love. The story presents a guy falling in love with his OS (operating system). Yep, it's like having a major crush on Siri. It’s so Black Mirror, but also reminds me of MTV Catfish! Think about it, falling in love with someone via the internet when you’ve never met them in person! So Catfishy.

Watch this if you liked: Be Right Back, Nosedive.

The Island

I think this film is pretty underrated. It’s so gripping! One of the films I wish I could have imagined for my creative writing dissertation. I find it very similar to Black Mirror. Brilliant twists and highlights the danger of technology.

Watch this if you liked: Hang the DJ, USS Callister, Fifteen Million Credits, White Bear, San Junipero.

Looper

Correction. THIS is soooo underrated and I WISH I could come up with something mesmerising and thrilling as this. I sympathised with the characters. It’s dark and beautiful at the same time. However, the time-travelling can be a bit confusing for some. I find it much more interesting than other action/sci-fi films out now.

Watch this if you liked: Men Against Fire, Crocodile.

The Prestige

This one is more fantasy than sci-fi. But the themes and plot lines (as well as the incredible ending!) are quite similar to Black Mirror. If Charlie Brooker came up with an episode set in the 19th century maybe he’d think of something similar to this! The ending of The Prestige is one of those creepy ones that you will always remember. I would love to rewatch this like how I did for the first time; unsure on what was happening, but just sat there enchanted.

Watch this if you liked: Black Museum, Play Test, White Christmas, The National Anthem

Gone Girl

Ooooo. Another creepy one. Not scary, but twisted. Twists in the plot and twisted characters. A true thriller. I was obsessed with this film and novel. You will love and hate (at the same time) certain characters. They are so dynamic and original. If you haven’t seen this, I honestly don’t know where you’ve been!

Watch this if you liked: Shut Up and Dance, Hated in the Nation, White Christmas, The Entire History of You.

Memento

It’s confusing from the start. That’s because the start isn’t really the beginning. You’ve just watched the end. Yep! You’ve watched how the story ends but you have no clue how or why it ended that way. Well, you think you may know... but you don’t. Don’t you just love a good ole plot twist!

Watch this if you liked: Crocodile, White Bear.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

And now something a bit more light-hearted and romantic. However, this is a blog post about films similar to Black Mirror so obviously it has dark elements to it. I’m so in the mood to watch this tonight. It’s so lovely. Makes you have hope in love, although, in a very unconventional way. This is also my favourite performance of Jim Carey.

Watch this if you liked: Hang the DJ, San Junipero, White Christmas, Be Right Back, The Entire History of You.

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So... this film list similar to Black Mirror should keep you entertained until you find a new series to binge!

Let me know which one of these films is your favourite too!

And also, what’s your favourite Black Mirror episode?

Mine is The Entire History of You. 

Strong contenders are White Bear, White Christmas, Hang the DJ, USS Callister, Shut Up and Dance, Nosedive and Metalhead.



*This post has been sponsored by Panasonic

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5 Things I Didn't Know About Puppies

I have a new baby. She's currently watching my fingers type very quickly. Fascinated, she's always wondering what I get up to. Oh, now she's trying to chew the edge of the screen. Is there anything you won't chew?

Ivy, the 14-week old French Bulldog cross Pug.

She was given to me on Boxing Day from my boyfriend. Yep! No other presents can beat a doggy!! He outperformed #BoyDoneWell

She was born on 29 October 2017, a fellow October baby like me, but unfortunately not a Libra. Do dogs' personalities also follow star signs? That's another 'dog question' to add to my list.

The one and only other pet I've had were fish. So this has been a massssssive step up.

She's the most adorable thing I've seen. Even though she has a big obsession with my slippers, paper, my dressing gown, wooden furniture, and anything I pick up to drink - she has been so much fun.

But there are many things I didn't know about puppies. But I guess I didn't get to do my research as I wasn't expecting to have one anytime soon.

Aside from the obvious hyper and sometimes disobedient behaviour. They are things puppies do, or things that are unique about Ivy, that may surprise you.

1. They will chew on everything and anything.

From toes to toilet paper. The world is just so fascinating! They explore the world by their mouth and they are also teething. Ivy would stroll up to my shoe rack, lie down and have a lil knaw on the edges. It's so difficult to get them off it, but I've found a few tricks online. You have to be stocked up with a variety of chew toys. There are so many materials and textures they haven't seen before so it's vital to keep them entertained.

2. They are not as cuddly as you think.

Stroking them isn't easy. When you draw your hand close to them, they just want to bite it off. In a playful manner, not aggressive at all. We want to stroke them as affection, and they think nibbling your fingers is friendly. When visitors come round to see Ivy, I warn them, she will try to dart for your hand, ears or bite your hair. Leo and I nickname her Piranha. Trying to get her to stop nibbling will take weeks or even months. I read after their new set of teeth are fully through she'll calm down.

3. AM pee appointments.

If you hear me around the house at 3am - 4am, I'm not sleepwalking. I'm letting Ivy out to do her business. Because she's so teeny her bladder can only last a few hours. Instead of waking up at 6am by her, howling for the toilet, I get up a bit earlier so I can have more sleep in the morning. She usually wakes up at 8am - 9am, then has another nap after breakfast!

4. How clingy they are.

Partly because I spend a lot of time at home, but puppies have been taken away from their family so they have an attachment to their new owners. She will grow out of it, and Frenchie's are apparently OK with being on their own. To get her used to solo time, I spend from 30mins to 3 hours outside so she can understand I'm going to come back. She's still so young, you wouldn't leave a baby away from their mother for hours!

5. Eat, sleep, play, repeat!

Puppies get around 15-20 hours of sleep a day! And when they're not sleeping they are looking for meals; dog food, treats, crumbs and dust! Quite a few things look tasty in a pup's eyes. And when they are not being greedy they play with anything they can get their paws on. Running around until they lose their breath! After gulps of water, they pass out. She sleeps from 30mins - 3 whole hours! And then the whole cycle begins again.

If you're thinking about getting a puppy, make sure you read and watch videos about it. You may have been brought up around dogs, but owning your own is a whole different game. Most likely it was your parents doing the hard work. I started going to Puppy School (yes, it's adorable) and I'm learning a lot about dogs' behaviour and mannerisms. I really want her to be a well-behaved and clever dog, so that's probably why I take my role as a dog owner so seriously.

Ivy is my new best friend and I can't wait for all the fun we'll have together.

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