` ` District 9 '' combines lo - fi horror with food for thought . Aliens in South Africa are separated into a township ; apartheid similarities obvious . Indeed , the film has been praised for its masterful use of special effects , weaving the technology seamlessly into the documentary-style scenes . Films made by relative strangers who bring documentary - style realism to subject .
` ` District 9 '' combines lo - fi horror with food for thought . Aliens in South Africa are separated into a township ; apartheid similarities obvious . Films made by relative strangers who bring documentary - style realism to subject .