Los Angeles, the City of Angels, has long been a target for filmmakers who delight in depicting its destruction.
From John Carpenter’s 1996 satirical film, “Escape From L.A.,” to the disaster-laden scenes of “San Andreas” (2015), Hollywood has relentlessly portrayed the city in states of calamity.
The film industry seems to take a unique pleasure in visualizing the city’s downfall, giving audiences grand spectacles of destruction interspersed with commentary on societal issues.
In “Escape From L.A.,” a fiery campaign address from a future president predicts that Los Angeles will be destroyed by an earthquake as divine retribution.
The director’s fictional universe becomes a reality when a massive quake devastates the city and transforms it into a deportation center for those deemed unfit for the newly established “moral America.”
Randy Newman’s lyrics resonate with an ironic twist where he sings of the sun shining on a perfect L.A. day, while filmmakers like Carpenter paint a far darker image.
Beginning with productions like 1953’s “The War of the Worlds,” the portrayal of Los Angeles as prone to destruction has been a recurring motif in cinema.
Audiences have witnessed vast areas of the city destroyed by earthquakes, tornadoes, and even alien invasions.
In “Blade Runner,” characterized as “the official nightmare of Los Angeles” by filmmaker Thom Andersen, the city is depicted as a dismal, polluted urban center of chaos and confusion.
Mike Davis, a noted historian, expressed the notion that Hollywood takes joy in depicting the demise of Los Angeles, sharing this guilty pleasure with its audience.
The destruction of the iconic landmarks, laid waste in films like “Earthquake” (1974) and “Independence Day” (1996), has captivated viewers for decades.
“Earthquake” showcased an all-star cast amid the chaos of a massive, city-ending earthquake, utilizing a unique Sensurround speaker system that allowed audiences to physically feel the destruction.
As the film opens with stunning shots of picturesque Los Angeles, it culminates in its transformation into a fiery hellscape, a foreshadowing of events mirrored in recent real-life events like wildfires.
The ongoing theme of devastation continues in films such as “San Andreas,” where the focus is on a search-and-rescue pilot navigating the chaos of a catastrophic earthquake along the San Andreas fault.
Hollywood’s fascination with the destruction of Los Angeles taps into the city’s recognizable landmarks, making it an appealing target for filmmakers looking to stun global audiences.
Paul Malcolm from UCLA suggests that Hollywood’s representation of urban destruction serves as a reflection of its own tumultuous nature, an expression of anxieties about constant change within the city.
While destruction catapults the plot in many films, there are also moments of heroism and thoughtful commentary on the necessity of disaster preparedness in a city built on fault lines and seismic activity.
In “Volcano” (1997), seismologist Amy Barnes warns against local officials’ arrogance regarding city planning in active seismic zones, leading to a disastrous volcano that erupts in the heart of Los Angeles.
The destruction often resonates with viewers who may harbor envy or resentment toward the wealth and opulence synonymous with California, creating a sensation of schadenfreude in witnessing its spectacular downfalls.
Craig Detweiler, author and filmmaker, comments on this deep-seated envy and how it inspires audiences to find joy in seeing the city annihilated in cinematic portrayals.
This growing trend of “Los Angeles Destroys Itself” has even inspired its own curated subgenre at film festivals, highlighting the city’s charm encapsulated within disaster narratives.
Greg Strause, director of “Skyline,” admits that the thrill of seeing Los Angeles landmarks destroyed effectively draws audiences to the theater, eager to witness the city’s wreckage.
The 1988 film “Miracle Mile,” showcases another example of L.A.’s potential for trauma, where residents experience hysteria amid chilling news of an impending nuclear attack.
Regardless of the time period or the nature of destruction, filmmakers have consistently found creative ways to illustrate the collapse of a city that represents both dreams and nightmares.
As viewers find a mix of pleasure and discomfort in these narratives, Hollywood’s fascination with the demise of Los Angeles seems poised to continue, exploring the ever-complicated relationship between the city, its audience, and the relentless march of change.
image source from：latimes
