Annihilation
Synopsis: Biologist and former soldier Lena is shocked when her missing husband comes home near death from a top-secret mission into The Shimmmer, a mysterious quarantine zone no one has ever returned from. Now, Lena and her elite team must enter a beautiful, deadly world of mutated landscapes and creatures, to discover how to stop the growing phenomenon that threatens all life on earth.
Rating: R
Run Time: 1 Hour 55 Minutes
Director: Alex Garland
Dvd Extra’s: Refractions story origins, casting, shooting on locations, visual and special effects.
Nudity Factor: None
Of Note: On December 7, 2017, it was announced that due to the clashes between producer Scott Rudin and David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, and the shift in Paramount’s leadership, a deal was struck with Netflix handling international distribution rather than releasing the film in theaters. According to this deal, Paramount would handle the U.S. and China release, while Netflix would begin streaming the film in other territories seventeen days later.
Recommendatoins:10 Cloverfield Lane — A Quiet Place
In this intriguing film, we follow the journey of a former military operative turned biologist, Lena. Her husband embarks on a mysterious mission, and just when all hope seems lost, he reappears—albeit with some peculiar behavior and a rapidly deteriorating health condition. This unexpected twist propels Lena into a covert military base in search of answers, leading her to a phenomenon known as “The Shimmer.”
The Shimmer is an enigmatic barrier that has emerged around a lighthouse, expanding outward to engulf parts of the surrounding swamp, towns, and even military installations. To date, no one has returned from beyond its shimmering veil—until Lena’s husband. Determined to uncover the secrets hidden within, Lena assembles a team and sets out on a perilous journey to the lighthouse. What they discover challenges their perceptions and tests their resolve at every turn.
However, the film does stumble over one glaring plot hole that leaves viewers scratching their heads. The lighthouse, the very heart of The Shimmer, is accessible by the coast, yet the team opts for a treacherous overland trek through a swamp. They even remark that heading to the coast would be the easiest escape from The Shimmer. So, why not just take a boat and sail directly to the lighthouse? Sure, navigating the waters without instruments might be tricky, but it would certainly be a quicker and more sensible route than slogging through muck and mire.
When the foundation of a movie’s premise feels shaky, it becomes challenging to fully invest in the story. While the narrative may falter, the film dazzles with its stunning special effects that are nothing short of breathtaking. However, we’ve long since moved past the era where a lackluster plot can be salvaged by flashy visuals. Today, audiences crave a compelling story that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the spectacular effects. In the end, while the film may shine in its visual artistry, it leaves us yearning for a narrative that truly captivates.