Annihilation
2018
Action / Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Horror / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Annihilation
2018
Action / Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Horror / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
A biologist's husband disappears. She puts her name forward for an expedition into an environmental disaster zone, but does not find what she's expecting. The expedition team is made up of the biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, a surveyor, and a linguist.
May 30, 2018 at 12:21 AM
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Intriguingly strange science fiction
Following a meteorite impact in the southern United States something strange happens; a strange shimmering phenomenon is noticed. Those who enter it don't return. It is growing. Then one day Kane, a member of a Special Forces team that entered the shimmer suddenly returns home to his wife, Lena. He has no idea how he got back. Soon after his return he starts haemorrhaging; on the way to the hospital he is intercepted and taken to a military facility. It is here that Lena learns of The Shimmer; when she learns that another team, this time composed of scientists, is to enter the Shimmer she volunteers to join them. Once inside things start to get strange; communications with the outside are down and consumed rations suggest they have been there at least three days although none of them recall that time. As they head deeper into The Shimmer they encounter strange plants and animals; it would appear that things there mutate at a cellular level... presumably that will include them!
I thought this was a really intriguing film. It was never too obvious what was going on and not all questions were clearly answered. The effects inside The Shimmer were really impressive; depicting some interesting ideas. There was plenty of tension; this rose nicely as a member of the group start becoming paranoid and strange creatures are encountered. The main characters are solid; as is the acting; particularly from Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lena and Dr Ventress, the government psychologist leading the mission. I'll admit to being confused at times, but in a good way, I wondered what things meant rather than thinking they didn't make sense. There are a couple of gory moments but nothing too disturbing. Overall I thought this was enjoyably strange so would recommend it to sci-fi fans.
Was it carbon based?
Annihilation is a tough sell. Fans of fast-paced action movies who just want to watch Natalie Portman shooting monsters in the face may be irked by the film's slow pace and reliance on atmosphere. On the other hand, admirers of weighty, cerebral science-fiction may consider Annihilation too pulpy; there are not many violent or horrific scenes, but what violence is there is quite gruesome and what horror is there is fairly disturbing. Nitpicky moviegoers will complain that many things here (both character choices and scientific stuff) don't stand up to closer scrutiny; it's not quite Prometheus bad, but it's sometimes baffling (funny how all these scientists handle the most sickening, pestilent-looking specimens without gloves). Fans of the source material may be disappointed by changes; I haven't read Jeff VanderMeer's novel but I understand writer/director Alex Garland took many liberties with this adaptation.
Me? I liked it just fine. Annihilation is not on par with Garland's remarkable Ex Machina but it does scratch my itch for creepy science-fiction/horror made with craft and care. This feels, in tone and themes, quite Lovecraftian.
In fact, the premise is reminiscent of Lovecraft's underrated The Colour out of Space. A mysterious biological entity from space infects a region of the United States; flora and fauna start mutating, mixing different species, with an uncontrolled proliferation like a giant, ever-expanding tumor. Five female scientists venture in the zone; among them is protagonist Lena (Natalie Portman), seeking a way to help her husband (Oscar Isaac), a Black Ops soldier who came back from the zone sick and deeply changed.
The movie looks great in spite of a slim (for Hollywood standards) 40 millions budget, with excellent, creative production design. While it's not as intellectual or abstruse as some reviews may lead one to believe, Annihilation does put enough spins on familiar tropes to feel fresh and novel; it's not the usual Aliens clone. I did find the very ending a little obvious though.
Still, the film builds up the tension nicely to some unsettling moments, like found footage of a previous mission or an encounter with a monstrous hybrid. I also like how the mutations are not always a source of horror but occasionally also of awe and beauty; again, it feels very Lovecraftian.
Finally, a special mention to the climax in the lighthouse, which I won't spoil; it's creepy, unexpected and feels unique in terms of confrontations with extraterrestrial entities seen in movies.
7/10
If you''re going to watch "Annihilation", please think about that word not in its most common acception, but in the sense of particle physics transformation; then do a little research about the Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks and remember Tarkovsky's "Stalker"; then you'll find that there are no plot holes in here, but a brainy script meant to play games with your mind. Enjoy the experience.
Thanks!
Everyone saying there's lots of plot holes and most of it doesn't make sense. Have you never seen or researched cosmic horror or H P Lovecraft books, movies or stories before? It's fictional beyond imagination weird and strange horror, it isn't suppose to make sense. It's purpose is to make you go wtf by the end of it. So if you watched it all and at the end thought to yourself, wtf just happened, wtf did I just watch, then it was an excellent cosmic horror film and did it's job and purpose well. Do some research before you bash and judge, don't be lazy and passive like 95% of humans.
Lots of plot holes but a very cool watch
Excellent adaption of the book. I miss the Pit sequences.
not what expected. could have been much more meaningful.
Contemplative sci-fi with some genuinely disturbing scenes.
Its just another underrated movie
thank for sharing, just read the review at roger egbert and got curious ;)
No no no
The heck is this
Thank you FREEMAN.
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Weird ending
Dont Download Waste of time speacillay if you will watch with your family.. they will just sleep movie is total non sense!!!
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hi?
@Marc8, go to Tech Specs and then click Subtitles @roadrug, you need to download BitTorrent to be able to watch the movies here lol
how to put a subtitle guys?
ASAsASasAS
WTF is This
one of the stupidest movie i have ever seen
great picture bad movie..
Best movie Ive seen this year, saw it with friends in March and we all still agree on that. SciFi masterpiece, and for sure best SciFi since Arrival
Almost a Good Movie. They Screwed at the End of the Movie. Waste of time.
this movie was absolutely horrendous! this is easily one of the worst movies i have ever wasted my time watching and i've seen some pretty bad movies throughout the years. the storyline was ridiculous, the acting was horrid and the overall vibe of the movie just made no sense. save yourself the agony and watch ANY other sci-fi except this one.
thank you..., for the 1080p bluray... hope my other bluray request soon thank you so much
Thanks
WooooooooooooooooooooooooooooW
honesty I hardly ever, ever, ever leave a bad review or comment but this film was a complete waste of time..almost 2 hrs ill never get back