Annihilation

9

MorganOlsonApr 3, 2018

Annihilation is a bold, brave, and “intellectual” film. Intellectual in the sense that if want your films to have clean, straightforward answers, this will not be your movie. The film confidently asks significant, cosmic questions aboutAnnihilation is a bold, brave, and “intellectual” film. Intellectual in the sense that if want your films to have clean, straightforward answers, this will not be your movie. The film confidently asks significant, cosmic questions about identity, creation, and destruction. Annihilation is an existentialist’s wet dream, a prosthetic fanatics’ next obsession, and a horror fan’s unexpected surprise. Natalie Portman gives a grounded performance as Lena, a biologist empowered by her grief and the film’s center star. Oscar Isaac (Kane) is sublime as always, delivering some particularly impactful lines with nuance and mysterious grace. The supporting cast is solid, though unfortunately Jennifer Jason Leigh (Dr. Ventress), Tessa Thompson (Josie Radek), and Tuva Novotny (Cass Sheppard) aren’t given much room for character growth. Gina Rodriguez (Anya Thorensen) gets the most time of the background cast and gives a convincingly twisted, hysterical performance that briefly falters on the merging of deniability and believability. On the subject of faltering, the film briefly stumbles with callbacks to an unnecessary side-plot. While people flocked to Ex Machina (2014), Alex Garland’s previous work, for the characters, one should go to Annihilation for the visuals. This is a gorgeous movie, with wide shots, saturated colors, and imaginative creations (there’s a particularly frightening and haunting animal scene; be warned). Ben Salisbury’s and Geoff Barrow’s score supplements the film perfectly, with acoustic guitars and orchestral pieces moving in and out of an ethereal mix of heavy synth by the final act. Annihilation deserves praise for its ambition alone. Garland’s a stunning, female-led, hard sci-fi movie to in this modern age is a wonder to behold and a joy to watch.… Expand

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9

OddomaticApr 11, 2018

Annihilation is a dark, beautiful, and thoughtfully made film. It's conceptually rich and well-acted, with stellar performances delivered by the entirety of the cast, particularly the team of five that the movie focuses on; they all fit theirAnnihilation is a dark, beautiful, and thoughtfully made film. It's conceptually rich and well-acted, with stellar performances delivered by the entirety of the cast, particularly the team of five that the movie focuses on; they all fit their roles quite well. Some might say it's too slow, or the plot's too simple, or accuse the characters of being shallow, but I would argue the contrary. Sometimes a lot can be communicated with fewer words; the lead characters' pasts are implied through concise and fitting dialogue, the pace careful and contemplative, and the plot as complex as it needs to be. The true strength of Annihilation is in the visual and audio experience it provides. Like in the detailed forest park set pieces, unnaturally overgrown with vibrant, almost otherworldly flora. The stillness, the quietness, always humming with the subtle movement of bizarre wildlife. The woods, as beautiful as they are dangerous, won't hesitate to plunge you into an atmosphere of fear and unease. This film contains truly effective horror, the kind that gets a real reaction from me. It had me shifting in my seat, unable to rip my eyes away from the unsettling imagery before me. It's not just frightening, but thought-provoking, giving enough hints for you to get a grasp on what you need to know, but not so much that there is no uncertainty or tension left. Easily one of my new favorite films.… Expand

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10

ricouda59Mar 14, 2018

awesoooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmme

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10

fantasticasm89May 6, 2018

Annihilation speaks, and I would only muddle the crystalline clarity in a retelling. Brilliant performances and gorgeous effects coalesce a fluid, telling, terrifying conclusion. In many ways, this film is a test of heart, demanding weAnnihilation speaks, and I would only muddle the crystalline clarity in a retelling. Brilliant performances and gorgeous effects coalesce a fluid, telling, terrifying conclusion. In many ways, this film is a test of heart, demanding we orient ourselves against the universe, certain to be devoured. Deliberate, economic, and visionary, the volatile alien world excites and terrifies on the surface. That’s just the beginning.

I went to post the picture for this review, and I realized that this movie left me so speechless that I almost forgot to mention: the characters are all women scientists. Furthermore, this film takes leave from the typical plot tropes that you would expect to emerge from its premise: people, leaders, the government are all innocent. The dystopia in this film isn’t human-made - it’s all-natural, and this leads to the film’s finest philosophical point: in nature’s eyes, we’re the aberration.… Expand

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9

HealingToolboxAug 25, 2018

More Arrival, director's last film, than Star Wars. As noted by many critics an unusual blending, heightening of the genre monster movie and and exploration into our own unconscious. I think better than Arrival as the third act pays offMore Arrival, director's last film, than Star Wars. As noted by many critics an unusual blending, heightening of the genre monster movie and and exploration into our own unconscious. I think better than Arrival as the third act pays off better than the first two strong acts of Arrival. A story for writers and explorers, not action junkies.… Expand

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8

MaxPayneIsGodMar 18, 2018

An intriguing, thought provoking Sci-Fi thriller guaranteed to keep you thinking after the final scene. An unsettling and (almost) original concept with some genuine shocks and a good dose of horror. The casting was a bit questionable, notAn intriguing, thought provoking Sci-Fi thriller guaranteed to keep you thinking after the final scene. An unsettling and (almost) original concept with some genuine shocks and a good dose of horror. The casting was a bit questionable, not Miss Portman's best work, Jennifer Jason-Leigh was a miscast based on talent alone, and Oscar Issac was underused (again) I really enjoyed it, but a sequel is unnecessary.… Expand

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8

WhiskeyStoriesMar 23, 2018

Annihilation is a film of beautiful contradictions. It's the most boring and most fascinating film I've seen in 2018 so far. The first half is dry as all hell (kind of a chore to get through), but the second half truly makes up for it in itsAnnihilation is a film of beautiful contradictions. It's the most boring and most fascinating film I've seen in 2018 so far. The first half is dry as all hell (kind of a chore to get through), but the second half truly makes up for it in its underlying themes, tension and creativity in f#cked-upness (the bear scene is absoluetly terrifying). The symbolisms are left to your own interpretation, yet some of the clues are extremely on the nose; the writing is sloppy, but genius at the same time etc. - the list goes on and on, but the most important aspect of it is that it leaves a really strong impression. This film will be remembered for years to come that's for sure. Annihilation is not perfect, but it is a damn good piece of hard sci-fi.… Expand

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10

akenaton1984Apr 15, 2018

Una mezcla de Lovecraft y Stalker. Una gran obra, indiscutible. No sólo se trata de la auto-destrucción del planeta sino de un análisis de los diversos niveles de auto-destrucción humana. Quizás, sí, algunos efectos pudieron ser mejores; peroUna mezcla de Lovecraft y Stalker. Una gran obra, indiscutible. No sólo se trata de la auto-destrucción del planeta sino de un análisis de los diversos niveles de auto-destrucción humana. Quizás, sí, algunos efectos pudieron ser mejores; pero eso no le resta nada al planteamiento original.… Expand

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7

drlowdonApr 7, 2018

A sci-fi horror film based on the novel of the same name “Annilhilation” follows a group of military scientists who enter "The Shimmer", a mysterious quarantined zone full of mutating landscapes and creatures.

Annihilation has a veryA sci-fi horror film based on the novel of the same name “Annilhilation” follows a group of military scientists who enter "The Shimmer", a mysterious quarantined zone full of mutating landscapes and creatures.

Annihilation has a very interesting central concept and features a host of excellent scenes, one in particular is so creepy it’ll haunt me for the rest of my days, but overall it doesn’t quite all come together in a completely satisfactory way.… Expand

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7

ViolettJul 15, 2018

Pretty nice if you ask me. I like this kind of "Stalker"-movies, games or books. But while idea is great, this movie looks so ... unreal? I cant believe in Lena-Isaac story, I cant believe nervous girls were successful where soldiers failed,Pretty nice if you ask me. I like this kind of "Stalker"-movies, games or books. But while idea is great, this movie looks so ... unreal? I cant believe in Lena-Isaac story, I cant believe nervous girls were successful where soldiers failed, I cant believe they just walked without any special equipment (at least they had one binoculars with night vision). One of my favorite books is Roadside Picnic - about alien Zone on Earth - in this book everything looks so real, even if it just a book, there are no plot holes, compared to Annihilation. Still, if you like such kind of genre I can recommend to watch this - once.… Expand

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7

LeehamMay 31, 2018

The book it is based on suffers from a reliance on tension built upon an unreliable narrator - it doesn't work. Here, the film wisely doesn't get bogged down in that and the structure changes help keep the narrative perplexing not because ofThe book it is based on suffers from a reliance on tension built upon an unreliable narrator - it doesn't work. Here, the film wisely doesn't get bogged down in that and the structure changes help keep the narrative perplexing not because of it being incomprehensible but rather because it presents a case of someone trying to understand what is not immediately understandable between the walls of the narrative. Portman truly does elevate all that she touches and here she grounds the film with intelligence and a nuance usually absent from fare such as this. It's not quite in the realm of Arrival but it's worth a look even for its ideas alone.… Expand

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7

marcmyworksApr 13, 2018

Annihilation is one of those subtle, yet graphic sci-fi horror flicks like Under The Skin. It doesn't really ask for much or even give much. An interesting and beautiful watch, but really nothing spectacular.

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8

PeterAlexanderMay 18, 2018

Annihilation is filled with tension and is indeed incredibly unsettling yet beautiful to watch. Its mystery is its greatest strength and it capitalises on this until the very end. An end which successfully left me with many questions of intrigue.

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8

MoishMay 30, 2018

A good sci-fi thriller that keeps you attent of wats happening all the time messes with your mind, and it's a fear adaptation of the book.

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10

DecTheWallsApr 6, 2018

Beautiful and strange. I can't remember the last time I lost myself so entirely in a film. Everything a good Sci-Fi should be.

Beautiful directing, writing, acting, and cinematography. I really can't find fault with this film.

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8

NEILTON_1962Apr 11, 2018

Ficção científica cativante, dramática, com atrizes nos papéis principais. Boa aceitação no Brasil. Natalie Portman conduzindo bem, a trama.

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7

M1N5KMay 9, 2018

Paramount had make a good horror movie. What a surprise. Paramount knows what it's doing. Not extraordinary put absolutely not bad!

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7

AMFcriticNov 1, 2018

If I had to define it in one word it would be: CRAZY.
The special effects are not exactly perfect, but they're fine.
What bothers, is that the director puts in the background interesting characters and great performances as Tessa Thompson toIf I had to define it in one word it would be: CRAZY.
The special effects are not exactly perfect, but they're fine.
What bothers, is that the director puts in the background interesting characters and great performances as Tessa Thompson to focus all attention on Natalie Portman. 7.2 / 10… Expand

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8

GrantD243Apr 25, 2018

Annihilation is a sci-fi movie that comes to us from Alex Garland, who is best known for Ex Machina, which was a critical hit back in 2014. And, man, I really liked this movie. Annihilation delivers on everything I hope for in a sci-fi movie.Annihilation is a sci-fi movie that comes to us from Alex Garland, who is best known for Ex Machina, which was a critical hit back in 2014. And, man, I really liked this movie. Annihilation delivers on everything I hope for in a sci-fi movie. There's a lot of mystery, ambiguity, some action, and some philosophical stuff as well. All of the acting is terrific and the visuals are mesmerizing. I will say that there was a point during the movie where I was thinking "Alright, this is either going to go completely off the rails in a bad way or it's going to wrap up nicely," and while I think the last act of the movie is a little rougher around the edges than I was hoping, I was still very satisfied with the ending. I really hope enough people go see this film for Paramount to turn a profit, because sci-fi movies like this are what I want to see more of in the theater.… Expand

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9

WarladyMay 26, 2018

I just say Natalie Portman,this was a really interesting wierd movie and I liked it alot. I just wanted it to be longer.

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7

TheQuietGamerOct 28, 2018

Alex Garland manages to create something that's deep, but not cryptic. Everything it deals with thematically is laid out in front of you through the conversations the characters have. There are still moments that require thought on theAlex Garland manages to create something that's deep, but not cryptic. Everything it deals with thematically is laid out in front of you through the conversations the characters have. There are still moments that require thought on the viewer's part, such as the symbolism heavy final showdown, but it's nice to see a sci-fi movie that strives to be intelligent without being vague. At least in regards as to what it all is supposed to mean.

The science side of it is where you're forced to draw your own conclusions. The film gives only the most basic of explanations as to what is causing all of the weird mutations found in the ever-growing "Shimmer" the cast explores. It's up to us to piece together why it's affecting things in the way that it is. I'm no cellular-biologist, but I think the reason Garland didn't go deeper on this front is because he knew there was no reasoning he could give for the things happening onscreen that would have any basis in reality. It's a pretty out there concept, but given how significant all the DNA talk in the movie seems to be it's a little odd that the whole premise would exist solely on McGuffin thought up to be little more than a take it at face value excuse for all the gorgeous weirdness onscreen.

While this leaves me with some mixed feelings, it does exemplify one of the movie's best traits; for something striving to be so thought-provoking, it's remarkably unpretentious. If anything it enjoys indulging in the gory, B-movie thrills that come from being a body horror that's part creature feature. One of the best in quite some time in terms of grotesqueness and tension. It has what might be the best jump scare I've ever seen and the entire lighthouse segment is nothing short of horrifying.

The visuals are mostly gorgeous. Light and bright colors are used to show off the natural and unnatural beauty of the strange new environment while simultaneously reminding us about the danger hidden inside it by capitalizing on the scenery's alien qualities. The weaker moments of CGI and a few noticeable green screens can make this feel somewhat low-budget at times. Nothing that really gets in the way of the movie, but something that stands out nonetheless. The soundtrack on the other hand is outstanding across the board.

Aside from dealing with the typical subject matter associated with the body horror, Annihilation is about depression, regret, self-destruction, and how much mental stress a person can endure before their minds break. It's all told in a very human way thanks to it's damaged protagonists, but the overall film isn't as engaging as it could have been. Mostly due to the pacing and manner in which the story is told. Especially in comparison to Garland's directorial debut, Ex Machina. I was never bored, but there are some unexciting stretches in the 2 hour running time.

While I don't think it was too complex for the average moviegoer, I can see why Paramount chose to avoid a full international wide-release. The fact that it's still brainier than your average movie made it too challenging for success in the superhero age of cinema. While having it's flaws, it offers enough traditional stimulation to keep one's attention. Another valiant effort by Garland to do something different in a time where that sort of courage is becoming less and less profitable.

7.4/10… Expand