The World's End

primordial cry

Edgar Wright said he made this film without any allegory of a morality tale or coming-of-age story. As he said, "The World's End" is a movie about "drunkards destroying the world," contrary to its Japanese title. The characters refuse to grow even a little, but the film ends with a strange sense of elation.

The alien "Network", who rules the world and replaces those who disobey with robots called "Blanks", says that it was a benevolent "invasion" aimed at the prosperity and development of the Earth, but drunk Gary, Andy, and Steven refuse. No matter what "Network" says, they continue to refute it (covering their ears and shouting "Wa-wa-wa-wa! I can't hear you!"). "So what do you want to do?" snaps "Network", to which Gary answers earnestly:

"We want freedom! We want to do what we want, how we want! We want to drink and feel good! So we drink a lot and feel good!"

This exchange is a direct copy of the lyrics to Primal Scream's song "Loaded."

Primal Scream is a band from Glasgow, but is often described as a band influenced by the "Madchester" movement, which fused rock and dance music.

"Madchester" is a movement that originated in Manchester, and you can imagine it as a dilution of the ideological nature of the 1970s hippie movement. It was a movement that liberated the ego through drugs and dancing, and was simply and wholeheartedly hedonistic, so it was no wonder it was so popular.

Gary spent his sensitive adolescence in the midst of the "Madchester" movement, and made it his life's guide. The "Network" finally gives up. It takes all the communication technology it gave from the Earth, destroys civilization, and leaves.

“The World’s End: A Drunk Man Saves the World” (C) 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The world has become a wilderness. Gary appears in a pub with a "No Blanks" sign, where strong, tattooed men hang out. His beard is gone. He has regressed to his student days. What's more, he brings along the "Blanks", the bad students he looked at with envy during his final pub crawl.

In the midst of the desperate situation, Gary orders five glasses of water, including one for Blanks and the others. This is the influence of Andy, who had preached about the "courage" of ordering water at a London pub after work. Gary's desire for death disappeared. At the same time, his desire for alcohol also disappeared. The world has changed to one where he can live the "meaningless and unrestrained life" that he had vaguely dreamed of as a student.

And, always a source of confusion for the majority of people, he sides with the hated Blanks who brought about the "end" of the "world", rebels in order to rebel, and fights for diversion.

They give the middle finger to even the slightest bit of growth.

Text: Samurai Isao

Designer by profession, film writer by profession. He is working hard to promote Indian films in Japan.

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"The World's End/Drunken Man Saves the World!"

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray: 5,990 yen + tax

Blu-ray: 1,886 yen + tax / DVD: 1,429 yen + tax

Publisher: NBCUniversal Entertainment

(C) 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

*Information as of March 2020.

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