Today’s quick review: The Humanity Bureau. Years in the future, war and famine have turned America into a police state where resources are scarce and unproductive citizens are deported to the supposed paradise of New Eden. As an agent of the Humanity Bureau, Noah Kross (Nicolas Cage) decides who stays and who goes. But when he’s forced to deport a single mother (Sarah Lind) and her son (Jakob Davies), he questions the justice of the system he serves.
The Humanity Bureau is a dystopian science fiction movie about a bleak future for America. Environmental disaster, dwindling resources, and the collapse of manufacturing have led to a policy where only the productive are allowed to remain. The Humanity Bureau shows this world through the eyes of Agent Kross, a tool of the system whose beliefs are challenged when he sees their true cost, prompting him to go on the lam with a family he’s meant to deport.
The Humanity Bureau is workmanlike science fiction that holds few surprises. The premise fits right in with other dystopian stories, though its near future setting and clear political overtones make it one of the less subtle entries into the genre. Neither the script nor the acting is inspired; the film covers the basics but does little more. The same goes for the plot: its beats are predictable, and the few that aren’t don’t matter much in the end.
Still, The Humanity Bureau succeeds in telling the story it wants to tell while avoiding any major missteps. The movie lacks the innovation or craft to truly engross the viewer, but its acting and storytelling are competent enough to make it a passable watch. Fans of budget science fiction may want to give it a whirl just for its own sake. But most viewers will find The Humanity Bureau to be a bland take on a genre that has more to offer.
Try Equilibrium if you’re interested in more imaginative dystopian sci-fi with a greater focus on action. For moody, atmospheric sci-fi with similar elements, try Blade Runner or Blade Runner 2049. Check out Elysium for a sci-fi movie with a larger budget and similar political themes. For other budget sci-fi that explores similar themes, try Automata or Anon.
5.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for mediocre execution of a familiar premise.