Mel Gibson is clearly fascinated by violence and blood. Just as, even if implicitly, The Passion of the Christ showed how civilization was born in blood, so does Apocalypto show how civilization dies in blood.

The film opens with a quote: “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” by Ariel Durant. The tone for apocalypse is set, and the film does indeed feel very much like the prelude to disaster – something the end drives home in an unexpected turn. However, there is something more significant going on in the film, which seems strangely familiar. A mighty civilization fears destruction by an unknown and uncontrollable plague, causing it to conquer neighboring people to sacrifice them to appease the gods. If they resist, they must be forced and if they kill in self-defence, here is no limit to vengeance – noy even the death of one’s own people.

Has Mel Gibson suddenly turned a critical eye toward US culture and society, the war against terror and the fear of outside enemies? » Continue your journey »