Aside from character stupidity, there's also character non-curiosity

[Dominus]

I recently watched a movie about the ending of the US and people are left to surviving in small groups. They have to grow their own food and stuff. Apparently, nuclear detonation turned this country to poop.

So, the characters in the movie got together somewhere in Colorado and started growing their own food and take in refugees. The refugees contribute with their respective professions. Ok, that's a good idea.

So, after months of total blackout in communication with the outside world, the husband of one of the main characters finally arrived from New York. He had traveled thousands of miles over several months to get there. In other words, he got new info on what's happening out there. And yet, not a single character ask him about it. He never mentions anything to anyone about what he saw. There's a total lack of curiosity from the characters. Does this sound realistic to anyone?

Or take the walking dead. Every nation on earth collapsed except for 1. THE UK apparently survived the zombie apocalypse. One character came from the UK said in exactly 2 sentences that the military took control right away and the country is intact after 10 years of zombies. Not a single character ask the guy anything else. Total lack of curiosity.

This is a very common theme among apocalypse survivors in movies and TV shows apparently. They dont wanna know what's happening. At all.

Frustrating watching these movies and shows when something like this comes up.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

I'm reading more feedback from writers who work on television and movie projects who express frustration when production leadership changes scripts in a manner that leaves what's remaining nonsensical. Entire scenes that explain situations characters must deal with are discarded. Characters end up talking and behaving in a manner more like a robot with a circuit board missing.

 

[LeicsDom]

I feel that a narrative has to grab me within 20 minutes or I give up and delete the movie.
Books have to similarly grab my attention within about 20 pages or they go straight into the charity shop pile.
I am way too old to waste my time on poorly written dross

 

[TickTockMan]

Same thing bugged me when I watched that movie.


I was drawn in though about the food issues. Seem like their entire plan would not have worked for longer than a couple months.

 

[rareboy]

I LOATHE most apocalyptic/fantasy/horror/superhero movies with a visceral passion.

They are made for stupid children who don't possess adequate cognitive skills to comprehend what they are watching, let alone plot points.

I find myself yelling at the TV asking the Who, What, Why, When and Where and in the theatre just fuming with my eyes rolling back in my head over this kind of sloppy shit.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

The Netflix movie, "The Electric State", is gibberish dialog that cost a ton of money to make.

 

[Dominus]

Just came back from watching 28 years later.

Ok, so, Britain has been quarantined for 28 years. Survivors are left to fend for themselves. No communication at all.

Some soldiers from the quarantine patrol somehow ended up on the island. Ran into some survivors. And not a single what, why when, where, etc. No curiosity at all. Get that? Nobody has an ounce of curiosity. Nothing. Nada.

Such lazy writing. I get it. They don't wanna give away too much about the current state of the world. But come on! Nobody wants to know what's going on?

Or how about the damn survivor that's been surviving alone among hordes of the infected for 28 years. Throw us a bone here. How has he been surviving?

Or how about this for lazy writing. The big bad guy in this movie is a very hung alpha infected. They managed to sedate him 2 times. And while he's sleeping, the survivors just move on. Allowing him to keep coming back and be the big bad guy. STAB HIM IN THE EYE WHEN HE'S SEDATED YOU IDIOT MORONS!