The Art of Crafting Anxiety inFilmmaking
In the making of Zero Day, director and executive producer Lesli Linka Glatter employed a deliberate visual and narrative strategy to evoke a sense of unease and powerlessness in the audience. By alternating between objective and subjective viewpoints, as well as utilizing camera techniques such as Steadicam and dolly shots, Glatter created a disorienting yet deeply immersive experience. This approach mirrors the paranoia and conspiracy themes that permeate the series, making viewers feel as though they, too, are under constant surveillance. Glatter described this effect as a "heavy ceiling" that weighs down on the characters, creating an oppressive atmosphere that feels almost palpable. The idea was to make the audience feel instability and unease, as if the ground beneath their feet is anything but solid. This aesthetic choice reflects the broader themes of the series, which explores the fragility of trust and the suffocating nature of systemic power.
Glatter’s experience in directing and producing the deeply paranoid series Homeland likely influenced her approach to Zero Day. Her ability to weave together tension and uncertainty creates a sense of relentless unease, keeping viewers on edge as they navigate the labyrinthine plot. By blending these visual and narrative elements, Glatter ensures that the audience is not just watching the story unfold but is actively participating in the characters’ feelings of helplessness and dread.
The Legacy of 1970s Conspiracy Thrillers
The 1970s was a golden age for conspiracy thrillers, and Zero Day draws heavily from this legacy. Films like Chinatown (1974) and The Conversation (1974) defined the genre with their exploration of futility and the overwhelming power of corrupt systems. In Chinatown, Jack Nicholson’s character, Jake Gittes, is crushed by forces far beyond his control, exemplifying the era’s fascination with the individual’s helplessness against monolithic systems. Similarly, in The Conversation, Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Harry Caul, a surveillance expert driven to madness by his complicity in a murder, highlights the psychological toll of operating in a world of secrets and lies.
These films were born out of a time of deep societal unrest—marked by the Warren Report, the Vietnam War, and Watergate. As trust in government eroded, the conspiracy thriller became a reflection of the nation’s collective anxiety. Showrunner Noah Oppenheim observed that the genre often resurges during periods of societal turmoil, as it provides a way to process and make sense of the chaos. Zero Day taps into this tradition, using the paranoia and distrust of the 1970s as a lens to examine contemporary anxieties.
The Resurgence of Conspiracy Narratives in Modern Times
If the 1970s were defined by societal upheaval and distrust, the present day is no stranger to similar sentiments. Zero Day arrives at a time when political polarization, technological surveillance, and global instability have once again fueled a sense of unease. Oppenheim noted that the genre’s resurgence during periods of crisis is not a coincidence—it serves as a way to confront and explore the fears that define an era.
In Zero Day, this fear is not just about external threats but also about internal moral decay. The series examines how individuals navigate systems that seem impenetrable and corrupt, inviting viewers to reflect on their own agency in the face of overwhelming odds. By revisiting the conspiracy thriller genre, Zero Day offers both a commentary on the past and a mirror to the present, reminding audiences that the struggles of the 1970s are not so different from those of today.
Rejecting Futility: A Glimmer of Hope in Zero Day
While Zero Day is deeply influenced by the cynical, fatalistic tone of 1970s conspiracy thrillers, it diverges from its predecessors in one crucial way: it rejects the overwhelming sense of futility that defines so many of those films. Oppenheim emphasized that the series consciously moves away from the hopelessness often associated with the genre, instead pointing to a path forward. This shift is not about naive optimism but about the resilience of individual morality.
In Zero Day, the system may be broken, but the characters are not powerless. The series suggests that even in the face of corruption and oppression, individuals can choose to act with integrity. This message is both a nod to the darker themes of the 1970s and a departure from them. By balancing the paranoia and anxiety of its narrative with a call to moral action, Zero Day offers a nuanced and hopeful vision for the future.
The Timeless Appeal of Conspiracy Stories
The enduring appeal of conspiracy stories lies in their ability to reflect and amplify the fears of their time. Whether it’s the paranoia of the 1970s or the distrust of today, these narratives provide a framework for understanding and processing societal anxieties. Zero Day captures this timeless quality, blending the aesthetic and thematic elements of classic conspiracy thrillers with a contemporary perspective.
By grounding its story in the anxieties of the present while drawing inspiration from the past, Zero Day creates a narrative that feels both nostalgic and urgent. It reminds us that while the specific fears of each era may change, the underlying concerns about power, corruption, and individual agency remain constant. In doing so, the series not only honors the legacy of 1970s conspiracy thrillers but also
