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Annihilation
(Paramount Pictures/Skydance)
By Lucas Allen
Science fiction has grown into an intelligent genre since “The Matrix” was unleashed to the public a decade and a half ago. Films like “Annihilation” are more like thinking man’s sci-fi, influenced by the likes of Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner.”
Director Alex Garland, fresh off his breakout hit “Ex-Machina,” creates an alien invasion story while raising questions about the acceptance of life and death. In a sea of mindless entertainment, this one is an interesting challenge worth taking.
Formerly in the Army, a biologist named Lena (Natalie Portman) works as a college professor, but is still in mourning for her soldier husband Kane (Oscar Isaac), who presumably died more than a year before. One day, he unexpectedly returns home before suddenly falling into a coma. She then finds herself at a secret Florida base, where psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh) tells her about an area called The Shimmer, believed to be of extra-terrestrial origin after a meteor strikes a lighthouse. Kane was one of the soldiers who went in there to look for answers, only to return alone.
Lena then volunteers to help Ventress lead a new team, including tough-girl Anya (Gina Rodriguez), smart-but-shy Josie (Tessa Thompson) and nice-girl Cass (Tuva Novotny) to find out what happened to the others. As they traverse through the unknown area, they discover that The Shimmer can mutate and create hybrids of plants and animals that came into contact with the unknown cells. Soon enough, they’re hunted by scary creatures that are out for blood. They also discover that it can make people go crazy, and they could be next.
One might look at this movie as the scary version of 2016’s “Arrival,” sharing similar plot points, a strong lead female character and an intellectual story that raises more questions than answers. This one has a stranger, haunting feel that delights in visual appeal but also creeps you out whenever it surprises you. One moment the characters will have a nice dialogue scene, but then a terrifying creature comes out to attack them. It creates an unnerving feeling of dread with the addition of bloody violence.
When the last act happens, you’ll see the explanation for the source of The Shimmer only to ask more questions after the last scene happens. The more casual viewer will be left frustrated by the film’s structure from beginning to end. But for anybody who wants a different kind of experience will likely enjoy it as well as discussing its themes and plot points with others. It works well without the usual assortment of flying saucers and explosive destruction.
The movie’s cast is small, but acts wonderfully to help shape the story. Portman once again adds gravitas to a complex and difficult character. She manages to give everything she has no matter what the script calls for. All the supporting female characters also do good work offering different personalities each with conflicting issues that clash with the creepy atmosphere. Isaac sadly doesn’t do a lot, which could be a disappointment for fans of his work on “Star Wars” and Garland’s “Ex-Machina,” but he’s not bad here considering what little he’s given.
“Annihilation” will likely split audiences, but its ambitious story and atmospheric visuals match well enough together. Garland clearly knows how to build intelligent storytelling within a sci-fi setting that Kubrick and Scott had done before. It’s no doubt that more pondering and eye-catching movies are coming our way.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for violence, bloody images, language, and some sexuality)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)
