Annihilation (2018)
SPOILER ALERT! This is a detailed review of the film Annihilation, which I just saw, so don't read it if you haven't seen the film.
I liked Ex Machina, was looking forward to Annihilation. The first part of the movie is an interesting balancing act of awkward romantic drama and crafty plot twists. The disorientation when they arrive inside the Shimmer is scary and believable, but the "creatures" didn't really do it for me, although technically they were quite well done.
I had this same problem with Ginger Snaps - please resist the urge to turn horror think-pieces into special effects creature features, because it can really change the tone of the film and disrupt the audience's suspension of disbelief.
I would have preferred it if Annihilation had explored the disorientation more, and it was frustrating to see them sideline it after they'd executed it so well in the beginning, giving it the same vibe as the criminally underrated disorientation thriller Coherence (2013).
A lot of the character motivations in the middle section of Annihilation struck me as a bit nonsensical, but Natalie Portman's performance alone makes it worth watching, by far the best thing about the movie. This is mostly an all-female cast, and Portman is playing a version of an action hero. She's genuinely great at it, seems to effortlessly embody her character's quiet confidence and compassion.
I like Alex Garland, how his science fiction is dark enough to qualify as horror, but the ending felt like it didn't really fit, that it was trying to tie a neat bow on something that wasn't quite ready to ship yet. As for the movie in general, I feel like Portman's outstanding performance elevated the material to something better than it probably deserved to be.
All in all I would say this is an above-average movie, not as good as Ex Machina, but better than anything else in mainstream horror right now.
I liked Ex Machina, was looking forward to Annihilation. The first part of the movie is an interesting balancing act of awkward romantic drama and crafty plot twists. The disorientation when they arrive inside the Shimmer is scary and believable, but the "creatures" didn't really do it for me, although technically they were quite well done.
I had this same problem with Ginger Snaps - please resist the urge to turn horror think-pieces into special effects creature features, because it can really change the tone of the film and disrupt the audience's suspension of disbelief.
I would have preferred it if Annihilation had explored the disorientation more, and it was frustrating to see them sideline it after they'd executed it so well in the beginning, giving it the same vibe as the criminally underrated disorientation thriller Coherence (2013).
A lot of the character motivations in the middle section of Annihilation struck me as a bit nonsensical, but Natalie Portman's performance alone makes it worth watching, by far the best thing about the movie. This is mostly an all-female cast, and Portman is playing a version of an action hero. She's genuinely great at it, seems to effortlessly embody her character's quiet confidence and compassion.
I like Alex Garland, how his science fiction is dark enough to qualify as horror, but the ending felt like it didn't really fit, that it was trying to tie a neat bow on something that wasn't quite ready to ship yet. As for the movie in general, I feel like Portman's outstanding performance elevated the material to something better than it probably deserved to be.
All in all I would say this is an above-average movie, not as good as Ex Machina, but better than anything else in mainstream horror right now.
I love the way you sing, okay? I fucked up my whole life because of the way you sing. - Before Midnight
Comments
The last 30 mins or so were the best the film had to offer as it took awhile for things to really take off.
Really dug the mutations especially the tree's and it was definitely a daunting experience at certain times.
What sets it apart for me, is the performances. They're all quiet, understated and add to the eerie feel. I think the horror is just the right amount to the science fiction, and if you're going into this looking for 'creatures' you'll be disappointed, save for one sequence towards the start of the third act. Speaking of the third act, wow!!
I also loved the soundtrack, which I've been pretty much-playing nonstop since I've seen it.
So it's on Netflix UK now, but I'm having such a hard time getting over the fact this is the only way I'll be able to see it.
I hope you like it.
Jury. Executioner. Judge.
I saw the movie in the theater last week. I didn't hate it but it's definitely a movie that I'll never need to watch again.
Jury. Executioner. Judge.
Jury. Executioner. Judge.
Jury. Executioner. Judge.
Jury. Executioner. Judge.
I've been resisting the "cinema is dead" argument for as long as possible, but with a case like Annihilation - a great, challenging and unique sci-fi that can only find a home on Netflix - it's kind of a thankless job holding onto that rope anymore. I was annoyed at Paramount before, but having now seen the movie, I completely understand why they dumped it. Not because it's a bad movie. It's just a movie that has no market in mainstream cinema anymore.
I think Annihilation would have done alright at the cinema. Alex Garland has become more of a name cinemagoers know of.
I struggle with the idea of Annihilation doing well in theaters. $11 mil opening weekend is pretty poor, but then that's sort of expected with how little they put into marketing the movie. But even with a bigger ad campaign, I think this was always going to be a tough sell to general audiences. Alex Garland has earned some prestige among the film community, but I'm not sure I buy basic cinemagoers necessarily knowing his name. Natalie Portman? Her BO figures speak for themselves really. High concept sci-fi? Always a huge gamble. I like to imagine a world where everyone would rush out to see this, but I think Paramount in the end made the absolute right call from a business standpoint. Just sucks for us movie fans who wanted to get the theatrical experience.