Netflix | Release Date: December 14, 2018
5.9
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 504 Ratings
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239
Mixed:
171
Negative:
94
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6
eagleeyevikingFeb 9, 2019
Chilling and creepy, Bird Box is a surprisingly effective horror-thriller. However, it is undermined by thin plot development.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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6
goncalocoutoDec 24, 2018
"Bird Box" é um suspense razoável. O início foi interessante, mas o final realmente desapontou. A atuação de Bullock neste filme é fantástica.
6/10
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
movieducationDec 19, 2018
Nonlinear storytelling leading to the less suspenseful outcome, inconsistent power of the unknown entity, typical hideout keep BIRD BOX uninspired while eye-opening potential (that underwhelming Sophie’s Choice-ish moment) about motherhoodNonlinear storytelling leading to the less suspenseful outcome, inconsistent power of the unknown entity, typical hideout keep BIRD BOX uninspired while eye-opening potential (that underwhelming Sophie’s Choice-ish moment) about motherhood and Bullock’s performance are wasted. Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
MikefromAngusDec 23, 2018
The beginning of the movie is a 10 out of 10! I was on the edge of my seat! The middle where they start to drive the car is where my scores goes down alittle. But at this point, I am still liking the movie! What destroyed the movie for me,The beginning of the movie is a 10 out of 10! I was on the edge of my seat! The middle where they start to drive the car is where my scores goes down alittle. But at this point, I am still liking the movie! What destroyed the movie for me, was the cheesy ending. Expand
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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5
WaelDec 21, 2018
As a massive fan of the book, it's safe to say that, even though enjoyable, the adaptation of "Bird Box" is not, in any way, spectacular like its source. A lot of aspects of the plot are changed, and made ridiculous, or cheap, and the goodAs a massive fan of the book, it's safe to say that, even though enjoyable, the adaptation of "Bird Box" is not, in any way, spectacular like its source. A lot of aspects of the plot are changed, and made ridiculous, or cheap, and the good performance from Sandra Bullock doesn't prove itself enough to carry the film through its missteps. The second half is especially changed drastically, and made more "dramatic" rather than intriguing (I mean, screaming "Don't take my children!" in the middle of the woods wouldn't have been a solution in the book.. just saying...). It's an enjoyable movie, and the cast carries out what is asked of them, however, lacking originality and faithfulness to the book, and not transcending the horror genre formula, "Bird Box" just isn't what I was hoping it would be. Expand
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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5
TryASummersaultDec 21, 2018
5.4/10 More standard mediocre Netflix original content that consists of recycled concepts from other films, scattered plot points, and no payoffs for the constant build ups. There are so many obvious similarities in this film especially to5.4/10 More standard mediocre Netflix original content that consists of recycled concepts from other films, scattered plot points, and no payoffs for the constant build ups. There are so many obvious similarities in this film especially to "The Happening" from 2008 as well as "A Quiet Place" from earlier this year. When it does try to be it's own thing at times, it comes off so contrived and cliche and I personally couldn't take it seriously. There are so many tropes and moments that are so familiar and unoriginal. The story is told in a somewhat interesting way and Bullock's acting is serviceable like always but it just lacks an overall originality which has become a trend in most Netflix original films unfortunately aside from a few. I felt as though they tried to make this more of a testament/symbolism to being a mother than anything else and maybe that's why it's scoring so well among the average Netflix demographic. There are moments of set up atmosphere and intensity that never lead to anywhere where I guess you're supposed to use your imagination which I find pointless when watching something that is meant to show the culprits before your eyes in the thriller/horror genres. The suspense is empty when it's meant to be full. Overall this is just a long dragging attempt at being a clever thriller drama that doesn't deliver any originality but is watchable I suppose. If you want quality original horror on Netflix, watch The Ritual or The Apostle. Expand
5 of 9 users found this helpful54
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5
The3AcademySinsFeb 11, 2019
Bird Box is a fun enough, especially when you are at a party and this is on in the background, or if you are hanging out with friends and want to watch a light scary movie. That's a good way to describe it: "light." The movie falls apartBird Box is a fun enough, especially when you are at a party and this is on in the background, or if you are hanging out with friends and want to watch a light scary movie. That's a good way to describe it: "light." The movie falls apart under any serious scrutiny, and it's honestly just a rip-off of "A Quiet Place" but it is enjoyable in spite of it's straight-to-TV-movie production value. The cast is great, and Sandra Bullock does a great job. However, it's definitely not one of Netflix's best. Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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4
madarasi012Dec 22, 2018
I couldn’t help but compare Bird Box to A Quiet Place. Both movies have a unique twist on sensory depravation. In A Quiet Place, that was sound—any noise would get you killed, as it showed so brutally in the first fifteen minutes of theI couldn’t help but compare Bird Box to A Quiet Place. Both movies have a unique twist on sensory depravation. In A Quiet Place, that was sound—any noise would get you killed, as it showed so brutally in the first fifteen minutes of the movie. In Bird Box, it’s sight.
The story of Bird Box is narrated in two parts: the now and five years ago, when the outbreak first occurs. The film maintains a solid pace at the beginning, but it drags on as it reaches its two-hour mark.
It is clear that filmmaker Susanne Bier, director of The Night Manager, wanted Malorie to have a sort of saviour arc, going from being a pregnant and uncertain as to whether or not she’ll love her child, to being a mother to her child and another’s, realising her love for them as she’s saving them from the presence. This, however, is not handled as well as it could’ve been because of how the film is written; it tries to straddle the line between sci-fi horror and emotional, psychological drama/thriller, and falls poorly in the middle, choosing neither camp and suffering for it. Furthermore, there is no emotional connection to these characters, and watching the story of the past was pointless in terms of actually connecting with the characters as we knew they were going to die anyway. Finally, what would be the nail in the coffin (box?), would be that the characters are one-note and fail to be anything more than tropes of the genre.
However, because of its cast and cinematography, Bird Box is an entertaining-enough watch, albeit with a fair number of flaws and, if you’ve found yourself with nothing to do over the weekend, you might as well give it a go.
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2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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6
TheWaffleJan 7, 2019
Worth the price of admission, but Bird Box is very inconsistent. The film has two primary settings, and one of them plays like a top-notch thriller while the other seems like a made-for-tv movie. The flash-back elements are too weak to matchWorth the price of admission, but Bird Box is very inconsistent. The film has two primary settings, and one of them plays like a top-notch thriller while the other seems like a made-for-tv movie. The flash-back elements are too weak to match the jarring opening moments where Bullock is yelling at two kids that "you listen to me, or you die." Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
deteDec 30, 2018
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Unoriginal, except for the blindfold gimmick.Follows the zombie/apocalypse formula and doesn't offer anything new . Ending is cliche AF, as is most of the movie and especially the cast. Ex-soldier is gonna help the little lady, sacrificing himself of course, but not before they have a forced and awkward love scene. When he said "I love you so much" I actually lol'ed - they had no chemistry and very little interaction before that, they hardly spent a day together. Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
AleoshaJan 5, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is basically about leftistist that discover that Trump got elected (maybe reelected?). You need to see the results to believe them, it's not enough to hear about it. But once you see them - you kill yourself, literally, because you simply cannot live in a world were Trump is the president. So, what do the leftists do? They hide in their homes. And when they need to go out, they cover their eyes with blindfolds. Their enemies are usual leftist enemies - rednecks and other residents of southern states, by their looks and accents. Oh, and there's also 50 years old Sandra Bullock dreaming about making it out with a black guy 20 years younger. And two stupid kids that ought to grow up in a world that is immensely dangerous, but acting as your regular kids that went out on a field trip with their mommy.
So refreshing to see such trash of a movie, I must say.
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1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
fraterangJan 6, 2019
Bird Box borrows too much from films like The Quiet Place without implementing anything interesting but tired cliched characters.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
realestgamer11Jan 15, 2019
Really, you're not gonna show the monsters at the end of the show even? Mistake... And what's with the invunlerable post apocalyptic crew, who don't know whether they want to kill survivors or just show them a little piece of heaven?Really, you're not gonna show the monsters at the end of the show even? Mistake... And what's with the invunlerable post apocalyptic crew, who don't know whether they want to kill survivors or just show them a little piece of heaven? Explanation? Average character development and weak back story leads to an empty suspensful horror which doesn't scare, and has an extremely weak ending. Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
RedUnicycleMar 27, 2020
A great performance by Sandra Bullock? Check. An incoherent and poorly written story? Check. An absolutely laughable **** ending? Check.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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6
andy24king24Dec 23, 2018
First the positives, tense, chilling, some good acting, Sandra Bullock once again a fine performance but the one big negative, too many questions by the end and not enough answers. So much potential but not good enough.
3 of 7 users found this helpful34
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6
Ryanm42Dec 21, 2018
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Could have been so awesome, but solid performances and emotional payoffs are hampered by poor writing and weak story elements. Plot points are left under-explained and Bullock's change of heart at the end is not justified. There is also no real resolution if you think about the ending for more than 30 seconds. Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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4
wantedtolikebutDec 25, 2018
What a mess. The inter-cutting between present and past didn't work. The cast was full of very good and very bad actors, working unharmoniously together, creating a truly odd tone throughout the film. Felt like half student film, half slickWhat a mess. The inter-cutting between present and past didn't work. The cast was full of very good and very bad actors, working unharmoniously together, creating a truly odd tone throughout the film. Felt like half student film, half slick Hollywood horror. Not showing the creatures, constantly alluding to them, and teasing them with illustrations drawn by an over-acting madman was incredibly irritating. Not at all suspenseful. I've seen better Twilight Zones done for what this bunch budgeted for one day's lunch. Expand
2 of 6 users found this helpful24
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6
GarethBJan 4, 2019
A decent thriller that some people are casting as a horror movie, whilst it contains some horror elements I did not find it all scary and instead found it a more compelling human tale of loss, life and acceptance.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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5
JLuis_001Dec 26, 2018
It's useless to have an interesting plot and to start up your narrative in the most important point when you deal with the rest of the story interspersed with the moments that led you to that exact point, especially to problematically build aIt's useless to have an interesting plot and to start up your narrative in the most important point when you deal with the rest of the story interspersed with the moments that led you to that exact point, especially to problematically build a very poor climax seasoned with an unsatisfactory conclusion.

Undoubtedly, Netflix bet strongly for this film that together with Roma are the last strong releases for the stream service this end of the year. But this definitely didn't pay the sufficent dividends, neither responded with the expected quality.
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1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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4
shoulderoforionDec 27, 2018
The only reason I'm giving this a 4 is because the cast is so good. From the trailer Bird Box looked like a straight rip off of A Quiet Place, and that's exactly what it is. The production values are sky high, but we literally saw the sameThe only reason I'm giving this a 4 is because the cast is so good. From the trailer Bird Box looked like a straight rip off of A Quiet Place, and that's exactly what it is. The production values are sky high, but we literally saw the same story by John Krasinski,told last year, so much better. Sandra Bullock continues to be the also ran hack she's always been, and it's "nice" seeing her try to erase the fact she used to be married to a White Supremacist. Expand
2 of 10 users found this helpful28
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5
PrrgangstaDec 21, 2018
This movie has a good idea and I love its cast but it is just another cliche horror flick that raises more questions than answers and teases with no real pay off.

Sandra Bullock plays Malorie, a pregnant woman who is trying to survive the
This movie has a good idea and I love its cast but it is just another cliche horror flick that raises more questions than answers and teases with no real pay off.

Sandra Bullock plays Malorie, a pregnant woman who is trying to survive the end of the world (because that hasn't been overdone yet).

The movie plays out in a way that you know who all isn't gonna make it because it jumps from past to present so the suspense of who dies is completely removed from the movie.

The "creature" or whatever it is is never shown or seen. I want to know what the characters are seeing that are making them commit suicide. What do crazy people see that makes them so happy? The movie never answers these questions it is all left to YOUR imagination.

The movie is a great idea and I would love to see it done again but with a less cliche plot and done in a more suspenseful way.
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1 of 5 users found this helpful14
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6
vervainDec 28, 2018
This is a scenario where it's near impossible to capture in film format the sheer terror and suspense that the book conjures up so effectively. Bird Box, which I read well before seeing the film, was unputdownable and scary as hell. It wasThis is a scenario where it's near impossible to capture in film format the sheer terror and suspense that the book conjures up so effectively. Bird Box, which I read well before seeing the film, was unputdownable and scary as hell. It was absolutely brilliant. The film was good; I really had no complaints (Sandra Bullock did an excellent job, and especially Sarah Paulson, whom I adore. Also, there were some really funny moments in the film that I don't recall happening in the book.) It just wasn't that scary. Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
SrPepeJan 12, 2019
Super mega predecible, te pone en mood algunas veces pero no es nada del otro mundo ni tampoco algo innovador, un concepto repetitivo con actuaciones mediocres. Lo mejor de la peli es la mezcla de sonido.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
DubeauJan 18, 2019
There are some good things in Bird Box. Like the moving with the blindfold tension. The flashback are good in general. The Malkovich character. For me the enemies were a mix bag. I like that were not showed but didn't like some logic holesThere are some good things in Bird Box. Like the moving with the blindfold tension. The flashback are good in general. The Malkovich character. For me the enemies were a mix bag. I like that were not showed but didn't like some logic holes they create. Some of the flashback were too long and there wasn't enough scenes in the actual time. The music wasn't doing anything special for me. I give it a 63% but sometimes that movie felt like a gimmick story, like they develop all that story around the blindfolding. Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
amheretojudgeJan 3, 2019
To Confront The Demons.

Bird Box Bier's sci-fi horror is neither fictitious enough to be a sci-fi nor scary enough to be a horror, settling for a qualifying score, it is arguably a decent family drama. As rich and alluring the concept is,
To Confront The Demons.

Bird Box

Bier's sci-fi horror is neither fictitious enough to be a sci-fi nor scary enough to be a horror, settling for a qualifying score, it is arguably a decent family drama. As rich and alluring the concept is, its implementation is equally disappointing. Ticking for more than two hours, if lopped off the over chewed material, their barely resides a worthy content of an hour. And it is without a question, the equation between Bullocks and her kids, which no matter how manipulative, rumbles you down with every possible impressive trick. And to balance the gained head start, it shucks down the sincerity for a complex drama by overstuffing it with multiple and eventually meaningless characters, and still the content never grows complex or even husky.

The mythological themed back story where this surviving spirit thrives upon, is left untouched and never is given a thorough explanation. In fact, even that too would have worked, if they would have sculpted the usual "horror" montage clips with an uncertainty kept alive in the screen to draw out the chills and thrills. Addition to that, the primary weakness of it, is the intangible tone which comes from the knack of creating a calculatively created multiple genre film, evidently in order to do so, it doesn't make much sense; the second act where the jealousy and bickering gets in, the admirably attempted thriller isn't just convincing enough to breed the crisp out of it.

The primary relationship of Bullocks and Rhodes is way too chalky to bubble up the tenderness it was aspired to have. With loftiness in conversation and a tiny bit of practicality, there is very less illumination in characters for us to care for them. As mentioned before, the ethical challenges that Bullocks is put upfront to, especially the boat sequences are even though flawed, thoroughly competent and engaging drama.

On terms of performance, Bullock makes sure she is the overprotective mother in every frame. Whether it is to care for someone in a supermarket or in a house shared with a stranger or in a boat sailing blindly over the river. In fact, the story itself offers a lot of "Sophie's Choice" to rumble the viewers and fiddle with them emotionally. Malkovich as the practical and speculative supporter and a skeptical stranger, gets his moment to stand off. With a stereotypical content sized as a sticky note, the other cast is as anticipated, but the disappointment would be Rhodes who as a performer might have potential but as a character, well, not so much.

There are few sequences where the storytelling takes an uncalled detour like an intimate scene between Bullock and Rhodes, straining the threads on the boat sequences and over ridden emotions. On the other hand, the world at a critical stage as such is created with three dimensional perspective where even their too, are encouraging activities for the destruction which is imputed in narration smoothly. Bird Box, the ultimate seesaw of the discussion on where it lies, as an art there is a very little to work upon but as far as entertainment is concerned, it can be categorized as a guilty pleasure.
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
Rox22Sep 4, 2022
In a nutshell: It's a Quiet Place clone. An old saying when making horror movies and building great atmosphere is "less is more." A threat is more scary when you don't know what is and can't see it. Bird Box demonstrates this fantastically byIn a nutshell: It's a Quiet Place clone. An old saying when making horror movies and building great atmosphere is "less is more." A threat is more scary when you don't know what is and can't see it. Bird Box demonstrates this fantastically by showing nearly nothing. Sandra Bullock delivers a stunning performance, as do the rest of the top tier cast. On the other hand, the extras or smaller characters come across as amateurs and do really look sub par by comparison the the leads.

The story is delivered in a back and forth way ie. Present, then flashbacks. While this style is a bit clichéd for this genre, it works. Pacing on the other hand is very slow and does drag on and on frequently throughout the movie.

Overall:
An okay movie that is really hampered by its very slow burn. If you don't mind a slow paced thriller/horror, then you'll likely love it. If you prefer more action, then you'll likely find it a bit boring.
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
bfoore90Mar 4, 2019
The memes for this movie were more entertaining than the film itself. Sandra Bullock is very good as is most of the cast, except for Machine Gun Kelly but the film is essentially "The Happening" meets "A Quiet Place" except not as bad as TheThe memes for this movie were more entertaining than the film itself. Sandra Bullock is very good as is most of the cast, except for Machine Gun Kelly but the film is essentially "The Happening" meets "A Quiet Place" except not as bad as The Happening and not nearly as good as A Quiet Place. Expand
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4
Voodoo123Jan 8, 2019
Birdbox is a film with a somewhat entertaining if standard 'apocalyptic' stting... We see world of silly humans brought to its knees by the sudden onslaught of mass death brought about by a group of unseen beings which once 'seen', driveBirdbox is a film with a somewhat entertaining if standard 'apocalyptic' stting... We see world of silly humans brought to its knees by the sudden onslaught of mass death brought about by a group of unseen beings which once 'seen', drive anyone who makes eye contact with said entity to either immediately commit suicide or enter some sort of psychosis where they force others to look at the entity and thus kill themselves.

The cast do an okay job with this poorly conceived idea, yet for me its the crisis-logic-decision making of its characters that took me out of being truly immersed in the movie.... The typical horror tropes are here with many contrived 'survivor group' silly death/s. In combination with the rather lackluster cinematography and limited soundscape this makes Bird Box a weaker than average horror/mystery/scifi outing. In terms of a modern contemporary, World War Z achieves much of what this film sets out to do to a far higher standard in my opinion.
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6
FatalBrushApr 19, 2019
The movie was definitely interesting to watch but there were so many parts not revealed respectively not explained at all. By the end of the movie, I was left with a big "why?" and also "did this movie just really end like this?". On theThe movie was definitely interesting to watch but there were so many parts not revealed respectively not explained at all. By the end of the movie, I was left with a big "why?" and also "did this movie just really end like this?". On the positive part, the acting was good and the general setting was interesting. On the negative part, the plot parts left unexplained kind of give the impression that the writing was poor. I don't know, this movie was simply missing quite some parts. Expand
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6
d0vla11Jan 3, 2019
This movie had so much potential, and it was totally wasted. First act looked promising, but after that you start to lose the connection with the movie characters. Story definitely not developed enough.
Too bad...
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4
MovieNightsJan 26, 2019
I feel like I just wasted about an hour and a half of my time. The movie is good, keeps you going to see what happens and see if they make it. Sandra Bullock was fantastic and this would be nothing without her. But the ending just blows upI feel like I just wasted about an hour and a half of my time. The movie is good, keeps you going to see what happens and see if they make it. Sandra Bullock was fantastic and this would be nothing without her. But the ending just blows up the entire movie, I mean is it even an ending? Should we expect a sequel? So what you're telling me is that I just watched an hour and a half of people arguing, collecting food, debating about who to let in or not, and babies. Talk about an ending that ruins an entire movie. Ending is a 1 star but Bullock and the want to see what happens prevents this from being that 1 star. It's somewhat recommended, it's fun and compelling enough I guess. Expand
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6
clarkaddisonJan 2, 2019
Not the perfect thriller but an interesting one nonetheless. The premise and ideas that are given to us, the audience, is haunting. What would make us kill ourselves after seeing it? It`s scary and how most of the actors/actresses react onceNot the perfect thriller but an interesting one nonetheless. The premise and ideas that are given to us, the audience, is haunting. What would make us kill ourselves after seeing it? It`s scary and how most of the actors/actresses react once this happens to them is acted really well. I love all the acting in the film and the problems that come with having to keep blindfolded. The memes make it worth watching at the least Expand
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6
zNeverSleepingJan 23, 2020
O problema desse estilo de narrativa, onde a história é moldada por flashbacks - aqui estão bem presentes -, é que ambas linhas devem ser bem estruturadas para que nenhuma sobreponha a outra. Aqui o diretor escolheu justamente o oposto,O problema desse estilo de narrativa, onde a história é moldada por flashbacks - aqui estão bem presentes -, é que ambas linhas devem ser bem estruturadas para que nenhuma sobreponha a outra. Aqui o diretor escolheu justamente o oposto, focando na narrativa do passado. O que não deu certo foi que eles "apostaram" todo o clímax no início do filme - graças a premissa, que possibilita isso. Há diversos momentos de tensão no filme, mas o próprio te acostuma mal e aquilo deixa de fazer sentido, fazendo com que não haja emoções quanto ao que estamos vendo.

Os personagens não são carismáticos, e os que tem potencial não são desenvolvidos o suficiente. As atuações também não ajudam muito, mesmo que a Sandra Bullock se esforce, não é o suficiente para carregar o filme.

Quanto ao lado puramente ficcional, ele é abordado como um mistério, onde suas perguntas não serão respondidas.
Essa atitude seria interessante se o filme estimulá-se isso, fazendo com que tenhamos interesse, o que não acontece.

Também há alguns furos no roteiro, principalmente no final, onde é supostamente apresentado algo definitivo, sem continuação, quando na realidade, tudo aquilo é tão instável que de nada adianta.
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6
joaogabriNov 21, 2019
Acompanha a busca por sobrevivência de uma mãe e seus dois filhos numa realidade onde estranhas criaturas seduzem as pessoas ao suicídio.

Não é ruim como disseram nem bom como disseram. É um filme legal, com momentos interessantes, mas que é
Acompanha a busca por sobrevivência de uma mãe e seus dois filhos numa realidade onde estranhas criaturas seduzem as pessoas ao suicídio.

Não é ruim como disseram nem bom como disseram. É um filme legal, com momentos interessantes, mas que é maçante quando não em tensão. O elenco é bom, Bollock está bem aqui e o Trevante eu nem comento, sou clubista com esse homem.

Esperava mais pelo hype mas fui tranquilo, filme ok sim.
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5
FilmanwaltDec 17, 2020
Strong beginning, weak end part.

The mysterious and threatening is really well staged at the beginning of the film and creates an oppressive atmosphere. Sandra Bullock knows how to convince here. Towards the middle, the film reaches its
Strong beginning, weak end part.

The mysterious and threatening is really well staged at the beginning of the film and creates an oppressive atmosphere. Sandra Bullock knows how to convince here.

Towards the middle, the film reaches its climax and then loses its impact significantly. Unfortunately, towards the end, typical situations are used (stumbling over a branch, etc.) which is simply unnecessary and makes the film plunge into insignificance.

Therefore, one can say that the film is okay for a Netflix evening, but nothing more, the courage is simply missing to really dare something new.
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6
JLauSep 23, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There are winged-creatures who kill everyone who sees them so one woman rows down a river with two children wearing blindfolds. Expand
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5
MethiasJun 13, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Birdbox was a film that I was really excited about. I had heard a fair bit of gossip about it before hearing from a friend who does not like horror at all that it's supposed to be really scary. So, I figured if my horror hating friend has even heard of this film, then in must be worth a watch.

I sat down with some snacks and was ready to stick into the something I had high expectations for. And naturally, I got into it, as any horror fan would do when it comes to a new film. New stories, new monsters, demons, scares, it's all what we horror fans are after.

Unfortunately, Bird Box didn't deliver. I will confess, I was hooked through the first half of the story. The start is what gets you, where this unseen force has the terrifying power to make people commit suicide, and no matter where they are, they will find the nearest way to do it. So be warned, if you're not capable of handling a bit of heavy themes, you'll see people throw themselves out of windows, burn themselves alive, shoot themselves. I will commend the film for not holding back on the details.

But going back to this unseen force, you're left wandering for a long while just what could it be. A has in the air, a chemical in the water, some kind of new insanity inflicting virus? Perhaps it's a film that'll finally have a prion as the scary thing. But no. We literally are just told it's something that no one can explain, and once you see it, you either die, or you become someone who's insane who then works to force others to see the unseeable horror.

As for these insane people who force others to look upon whatever it is, they play the part as the secondary bad... thing. So to speak. And it's with one of them that the film hits its most interesting and exciting part.

During the roughly half way point of the film, we have a stranger banging on our survivors door in their fortified home that they've blocked off. They've already lost a few of their survivor friends by this point, but oh well, things seem to be going well. But this stranger who begs them to let him in, he almost falls victim to the unseen force.

He's eventually let in, and you're convinced that he's just another survivor like the others. It's in this hour our main heroine and another girl go into labour and begin birthing their babies.

As this is all happening on the second floor, our new friend, the stranger, starts to take drawings out of his case he was carrying with him. It's here we get a good look at his eyes, and see they just do not look anywhere normal at all. Then after that, we see what he's been drawing.

I absolutely loved what I saw. Very wonderfully done and highly detailed penciled horrors. Honestly, I took one look at the drawings as our new mad friend began to sketch out another one, laying the others out around him. It seemed that those who survived looking at the unseen force and only went mad, not killing themselves, knew what they looked like, and this intruder was drawing them as he had become obsessed with them.

I honestly looked at them and felt like this film was heading into Lovecraftian territory. Which just pumped my excitement up to eleven. They looked so very eldritch like. Creatures like Great Old Ones from the H.P. Lovecraft mythos. It was so, so exciting for me.

But sadly, this scene is the only time we see them. Or even anything about them.

The film continues on after this part, where sadly we see our main heroine and her love interest surviving both the awesome looking demonic creatures, who for some reason are invisible, and the crazies who work for said demon forces.

Love interest guy dies, which is a bit of a classic move for these kinds of films. And she's left looking after the boy and the girl who have grown a few years by this point. And they're literally named boy and girl. Something to do with the idea that Sandra Bullock's character doesn't give them names to help prevent her getting too attached to them in case they die. Which really doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about it, because taking care of kids is, well, taking care of kids. It requires a lot of care from the get go.

The film moves on and ends in a rather anti-climatic way. The happy part being that they no longer have to wear blindfolds, or go down rivers in boats with them on, or carry birds in a box around, or do anything. Boy and girl get their own names after six or so years without one, and it seems like a happy ending. Sort of.

I mean, if you look at it, yes they're in a safe place and a pretty location, but they can never leave the enclosed gardens they now live in ever again since these demons seem to be an eternal force in the world now.

It's a fascinating new horror world, I cannot lie. The concept is interesting and the idea behind these apparant demons is the most exciting part, but unfortunately, Bird Box doesn't do anything clever with the one part it has going good for it. The horror.

5/10. Worth one watch.
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SayreTXAug 21, 2023
A mediocre thriller in every aspect - premise, writing, acting and directing. It attempts to use M. Night Shyamalan-style storytelling to grip the viewer, but fails to provide a final reveal that compensates for the tedious buildup. Also,A mediocre thriller in every aspect - premise, writing, acting and directing. It attempts to use M. Night Shyamalan-style storytelling to grip the viewer, but fails to provide a final reveal that compensates for the tedious buildup. Also, using 'children in peril' is a cheap ploy. Expand
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