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Airdate: Movie: American Blackout

NatGeo screens a two hour disaster movie that imagines a national power failure in the United States caused by a cyber-attack.

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2013-10-24_1245Quite like the sound of this one.

Next month National Geographic Channel premieres a two hour disaster movie, American Blackout, that imagines the story of a national power failure in the United States caused by a cyber-attack.

This premieres in the US on October 27th (assuming there is enough power to run it).

Gritty, visceral and immersive, the special combines startling user-generated footage from recent real blackouts and disasters like Hurricane Sandy intercut with the dramatic footage in feature film style.

Told in real time over 10 days, by those who kept filming on cameras and phones, see what it takes to survive, and who will be left standing when the lights come back on.

American Blackout intertwines five story lines: a family about to have a baby in California; a teenage guerrilla filmmaker in Texas; students in an elevator in Arizona a New York City couple trapped in a penthouse; as well as a prepper family in Colorado.

For these ordinary citizens navigating the turmoil, the question arises: When does civility and morality change to hostility? How safe would your home or workplace be? Who will survive?

Watch the full-throttle horror unfold and see how each of these characters attempt to survive 10 days in the dark. The hypothetical nightmare plays out on screen in real time:

DAY 1: Street lights are out. Roadways are gridlocked in urban areas. People are trapped on subways and elevators. Most ATMs are unavailable. There are blackout parties and predictions of a baby boom in nine months.

DAY 2: Toilets do not work and water does not run. There is no air conditioning. Stores face massive demand for bottled water, food, batteries and candles. Gas supply dwindles. Police, firefighters and medical personnel are inundated. There are reports of looting and fires from candles. Curfews are enacted.

DAY 3: Police, doctors and nurses work around the clock with little or no break. Government and utility officials continue to struggle to restore power. Schools and business are closed and stores will soon shut down completely.

And there are still seven more days to go…

Monday 4 November at 9.30pm AEDT

3 Responses

  1. So how does National Geographic Channel ends up showing movies.I’m not saying they can’t just trying to understand its not their area of entertainment

  3. Interesting timing David as a cuppla weeks later they have their “drill” where the power grid will be shut down to “test” their cyber proofing abilities.
    Has Foxtel given you a rundate for here yet ?

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