Our story follows Lena (Natalie Portman), a biologist whose soldier
husband (Oscar Isaac) returns after disappearing for several years and becomes
violently ill. Both are brought to a research facility outside Area X, a
mysterious zone on the Florida coast where the laws of science and nature do
not apply. Time passes at an erratic pace, the DNA of every living thing within
has mutated in impossible ways, and everyone who enters either dies or goes
insane. Lena’s husband has been the only person to come out alive. Determined
to find out exactly what happened to her husband, Lena agrees to join a
research team to find the source of this phenomenon and stop it before it
spreads. Led by an aloof psychologist (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the team, which
includes a friendly anthropologist (Tuva Novotny), a hot-headed paramedic (Gina
Rodriguez) and a fresh-out-of-college physics genius (Tessa Thompson), are
confronted by the horrors on the other side.
The hardest movies for me to review are ones that are either
so good that you just want to encourage everyone to go see it and leave it at
that or have a unique premise or central theme that are hard to explore without
going into spoiler territory. Annihilation
is one of the few that falls into that overlap. My gut reaction is to tell you
to go see it now and end it there, but the review would only be four words. I
will try my best to describe what happens without giving away all the juicy
details, but for now, just know that it’s an amazing film that you owe it to
yourself to see as soon as possible, and if it sounds like I’m being vague,
that’s why.
Right off the bat, Annihilation
distinguishes itself from the rest of the pack with its visuals. At first
glance, everything within the confines of Area X (or “The Shimmer” as it’s
called, since it’s protected by a bubble-like barrier) looks like an alien
garden of Eden, but slowly but surely, all the little things that are off about
it become more sinister and harder to ignore, like HR Giger painting over a
Lisa Frank poster. They find different species of flowers growing on the same
vine. They’re attacked by an alligator with shark’s teeth. And as they get
closer and closer to their destination, the anomalies become increasingly more
bizarre; a deer with cherry blossoms growing out of its antlers, trees that
grow in the shapes of humans, and something I will only refer to as “The Bear”.
I won’t tell you what it is or what it does. All I will say is that it’s one of
the most unsettlingly frightening things I’ve ever seen.
It’s also a movie that wears its influences on its sleeve.
While the visuals and premise are wholly unique, the story is a patchwork of
other works of cerebral science fiction. I’ve mentioned Alien and Arrival before,
but there are also strong hints of 2001:
A Space Odyssey, Solaris and Stalker.
(Pro-tip: if you want to sound smart to your fellow movie-goers, say
something is “Tarkovsy-esque” if there’s a shot of someone staring at a large
burning object.)
The deliberately slow pacing is something that a few might
take issue with, but I think it works in its favor. Admittedly, it does take a
while for it to get started, but once everything is established and we get to
the meat of the story, the pacing becomes much more palatable. It’s all about
discovery. We learn about this world along with the characters, the big set
pieces are broken up by quieter moments that give the big moments a greater
impact. Eventually it’s revealed that all the women on the expedition are
volunteers looking to escape the tragedy of their lives in the outside world.
They’re only alluded to, except for Lena, who gets frequent flashbacks to the
time after her husband went missing. Unsurprisingly, they’re the least
interesting part of the movie. Alex Garland is also much better at setting up
fascinating premises than paying them off, as anyone who’s seen Ex Machina can attest to. The book is
the first in a trilogy, so it’s a given that it would be open-ended, with the
final shot being a bit of a head-scratcher, but the story is self-contained and
works well enough on its own.
Bottom line, Annihilation
is a beautiful, haunting, intelligent piece of science fiction, and the best
movie I’ve seen this year so far. (Sorry, Black Panther.) The themes and implications are enough to keep you thinking long
after you leave the theater, and the images it conjures up will remain with you
for even longer. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and, but for all
its faults and the actors are a bit too subdued, but it’s still a mesmerizing
experience. Do not miss out on this one.
9/10, Full Price
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