Now I have no problem with movies whose entire cast compresses of depressed or droll characters so long as they have something interesting to do and say and they certainly do interesting things, I just wish the dialogue was given a similar treatment. The rest of the cast perform their roles appropriately though it seems that everyone’s been taking notes from the Wes Anderson school for acting where everyone talks and acts like their either tired or are in desperate need of a Prozac refill. I found Natalie Portman’s performance similar to how she carried herself in Black Swan (2010), in that she plays a complex individual with a truckload of emotional baggage, leaving little room for any smiles or joy. Also, this film has one of the most unnerving soundtracks I’ve ever listened too for a big budget film of this caliber (and trust me, that’s a positive). Apart from some top-notch creature designs and grotesquely satisfying gore, there are images and sequences that are so unique, vibrant and fear-inducing that they could double as modern art. The film also excels in its ability to craft new and unique elements of horror that I’ve never seen before (and this is coming from an individual whose prides himself on being a “horror junkie”). It would seem that much of the art direction’s inspiration has blossomed from the microscopic/macroscopic world, specifically with regards to cellular mutations and necrosis, and it works to such great avail. The film’s American bayou setting makes for many exterior set pieces that are so rich with organic life that’s just as tranquil as it is spine-chilling. To start with, the visuals (once inside the Shimmer) are breathtaking. There are many, many, MANY standalone aspects of Annihilation that’s worthy of appraisal, so let’s jump right into some. That’s all you’re going to get out of me if that sounds interesting then see the movie (or check out the book of the same name by Jeff Vandermeer). The mission of Portman’s platoon is to traverse the anomaly and figure out what it’s doing, how, and why. I can say that Natalie Portman’s character is a soldier turned biologist who sets out on an expedition into an anomaly called, “The Shimmer,” with a team of fellow gun-totting female scientists. Much of my enjoyment from watching Annihilation came from the various revelations presented throughout the film as they not only carried the plot forward but also made for some in-depth character development. Now this is usually the part were I give a brief overview of the plot but in lies a dilemma it’s nearly impossible to further discuss the plot of Annihilation without spoiling any key discovers or twists the film has in store for the viewer. But if you enjoy “hard” science fiction stories that challenges the audience and is so ensanguined with Lovecraftian cosmic horror that the screen’s practically sporting tentacles then why are you still reading this review? GO SEE IT WHILE IT’S STILL IN THEATERS!!! I LOVE when movies leave themselves open to interpretation, but I know not everyone feels the same way so if you consider yourself squeamish and prefer your movies with clearcut conclusions then stay far away from this one. There’s more than a few scenes featuring gruesome granger that will undoubtedly stick in the nightmares of those who are faint of heart, and the narrative makes for many unanswered questions. Annihilation is a strange, emphatic, and nihilistic science fiction tale of horror, and seeing as I am an enormous fan of everything in that sentence it should come as no surprise that Garland’s latest film (in my opinion) is one hell of a cinematic experience! With that being said, Annihilation is NOT for all audiences. You might remember him from his directorial debut with Ex Machina (2013). This week I had the pleasure of seeing Annihilation, the second feature film of writer/director by Alex Garland.
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