` ` 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 .
`` District 9 '' offers sci-fi thrills with food for thought . Aliens in South Africa are separated into a township ; apartheid similarities obvious . Film made by relative unknowns who bring documentary-style realism to subject .