What happens when your small town is hit by a nuclear bomb?

Aftermath takes that terrifying premise and dives deep into the grim reality of survival in a world where civilization has collapsed.

The film follows a group of survivors thrown together by circumstance, with the responsibility of keeping them alive falling on the first character we meet—a smart, capable doctor. But even with his medical expertise, there’s only so much he can do when there are no supplies, no hospitals, and no hope. Radiation poisoning doesn’t care how skilled you are. The world is gone, and what’s left is pure chaos—exactly how you’d imagine things would play out if all rules disappeared overnight.

This movie doesn’t shy away from the darker side of human nature, and it definitely leans into the realistic and gory side of things. If that’s not your thing, consider yourself warned. Visually, you can tell this was an indie film—budget limitations show in the effects, landscape shots, and repetitive settings—but honestly, that didn’t take away from the experience. The makeup team did an incredible job, and the cinematography was well done, capturing the bleak, hopeless atmosphere perfectly.

My only real issue? The explanation of the bombings was a bit messy. It was explained, but in a way that made it easy to miss early on, which might leave you confused for a good chunk of the movie. Aside from that, it sticks to a pretty standard survival-movie formula, but it executes it well.

One last note: There are actually multiple versions of Aftermath, so be sure you’re watching the 2014 one if you’re looking for this particular take. The other version (which I haven’t seen yet) is apparently even more gruesome—so if that’s your thing, you might want to check it out.

Overall, if you’re into survival dramas with a raw, no-holds-barred look at what happens when society collapses, Aftermath is definitely worth a watch. Just maybe don’t go into it expecting a happy ending.