South African director Neill Blomkamp is known for his ambitious science-fiction films; and more recently, his works over at Oats Studios, continuing on that ambition for heavy science-fiction themes and unique filmmaking.
Outside of his short films made in the early 2000's, Blomkamp's first feature-length film debuted with District 9, a carry-on of his 2005 short Alive in Joburg, in which the sudden appearance of aliens results in large refugee camps where they are exploited by the human criminals within the area.
Filmed in the same documentary-like manner (you could argue that it's also somewhat found-footage), District 9 takes the unique concept of an advanced alien race reduced to shanty-town living conditions and vast exploitation all due to their strange illness that rendered them incapable of using their ship, which lurks high above the city at all times.
With the protagonist Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) being a government agent sent to document the conditions of the camps and inform many of its inhabitants that they must leave -- it has been over two decades since their arrival, and the humans aren't taking too kindly to their presence anymore -- despite not having any other place to go to. You could consider this narrative to be political commentary on the state of South Africa, and its treatment of those less fortunate.
Wikus Van De Merwe becomes exposed to an alien biochemical, to which he slowly begins to experience his body change in its entirety, turning him slowly and painfully into a Prawn.
With the inhabitants of the camps beginning to fight back against the oppression, Wikus Van De Merwe is forced to take matters into his own hands to avoid the militias that will either kill or exploit him, as well as the teams sent to deal with the aggressive Prawns; Wikus Van De Merwe is forced to make friends among the Prawns or become nothing but a science experiment.
With some incredibly creative visuals and special effects, District 9 became known as a hugely unique film, and a highly successful one for a first-time director. Its writing fits the documentary-like structure of the film, never overstepping with exposition or struggling with pacing issues. With it based on a unique concept, there's truly little like it. It could be considered political commentary in its entirety, displaying the societal issues within South Africa and the harsh treatment of the poor, despite them being like us no matter the wealth they have.
