Movie review : Annihilation
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions>
Having watched this film a few days ago, I allowed myself the time to ponder about it instead of writing a review immediately. Annihilation is Alex Garland's second directorial outing after his critically acclaimed film Ex Machina, and it's not hard to see the similiarities in style and tone. But more importantly, like Ex Machina, there is something more than meets the eye.
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions
Annihilation follows the story of Lena (Natalie Portman) as she joins an all female expedition team into the mysterious area called The Shimmer - an expanding natural disaster zone where nobody who entered has ever returned, except Lena's husband Kane (Oscar Isaac). With Kane nearing death, believed to the direct result of being exposed in The Shimmer, Lena is determined to find out what is happening inside it and perhaps discover the answers to what is going on with her husband's perplexing circumstance.
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions
The film is told in flashbacks, and flashbacks INSIDE flashbacks. Lena's backstory unravels as the movie progresses, showing her affectionate relationship with Kane and her betrayal to him. While the film hardly explores the backstory of the other team members, it makes it up with impactful moments of their desperation, poignant calm, and resignation to their fate as they wander deeper into The Shimmer.
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions
The visuals and cinematography and often hauntingly beautiful at times but violent and gritty when it is not. Moments of revelations in the narrative are sedately conveyed with little drama, almost matter of fact-ly in it's delivery. Visual clues are aplenty to the observant eyes, although never at the expense of drawing attention from a compelling story.
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions
Annihilation finds itself among good company with recent slow-burn sci-fi flicks such as the aforementioned Ex Machina and my personal favourite, Arrival. The overall story arc messes with the mind, but the characters' story is still the focus of the film and they are very well written and complements the background narrative beautifully. The underlying theme of self-destruction, sickness and rebirth is subtle but definitely felt throughout the film. I personally find the ending, where both main characters are sorta "rebirth" but not in the sense we used to see, is perfect.
image credit : Skydance Media/DNA Films/Scott Rudin Productions
Like his first film Ex Machina, this second film of director Alex Garland's is met with critical praise and justifiably so. I look forward to see more of his work in the future.
i was a little confused at the ending part, Lena got replaced by the alien as well?
i think Lena got replaced where the real Lena was the one that burn shit up. ( damn .. did i just to super major spoiler ?)
i was thinking the same...haha
Either that, or my theory is that she got infected enough that she became some sort of hybrid, and the alien is manifesting itself in her body and mind.
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stopped at spoilers, I am going to watch this movie.
Haha remember to share your thoughts after you watched
I had mixed feelings about this movie since I read all three of Vandermeer's novels before I went to see this.
I enjoyed the books far more, but I've realized that the movie was well-done despite its deviations.
One thing that the book and movie do have in common is that they leave the reader/viewer to come up with theories on why and how Area X came to be in the first place and what the motivation was from the extraterrestrials.
I've read some interesting theories about it, but nevertheless, it's fun to consider all of the possibilities.
I'm with you, though, I do enjoy movies like this, and I'm also a fan of Arrival, so hopefully we'll see more movies like this in the future.
Thanks for sharing.
Yep I realized the movie deviate quite a bit from the books, in fact the movie is completely close-ended leaving little to no possibility for any sequels. The title "Annihilation" also has different meanings in both mediums.
Best to just enjoy this as a standalone film, which IMHO is a good movie in it's own right.
A great sounding movie. Another one that had escaped by notice, so I am glad to have caught your review post. I like SciFi, and especially these type, where there is mystery and intrigue, and perhaps even an exploration of the human condition. As well, of course, as an entertaining story.
I'm a sci-fi fan too so this is right up my alley!
Interesting! Thanks for review, make me wanna watch it...
Thanks for reading, yes do give it a try. Slow sci-fi might not be for everyone, but if you get it, it can be a rewarding experience.
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I've seen this trailer and was interested to watch it.
I was jump reading your posts just not get some spoilers on how the story went.. hahhaha
Time to watch it!
Hahahah will have it on my list. ^^