Read Mixed User Reviews for Bird Box

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.… Expand

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.… Expand

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.… Expand

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 theThis 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.… Expand

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.… Expand

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.… Expand