Logan Sork Film Reviews
Annihilation
There aren’t many films that have their own unique feeling anymore. In the world of franchises and blockbusters, there is a point where you step back and realize that most of the movies being released today are virtually the same. Annihilation is breath of fresh air for movie goers who want something different. Though many people will compare it to 2016’s Arrival for its similar set-up that is where the similarities end. Annihilation is a fantastic sci-fi film that has fantastic technical elements but also manages the rare feat of presenting deep themes and ideas via complex characters and the willingness to keep some secrets from the audience.
Annihilation is written and directed by Alex Garland and is based on the novel of the same name by Jeff Vandermere. The film follows Lena, a former military biologist, played by Natalie Portman whose husband, Kane (Oscar Isaac) disappears after being sent on a classified assignment, sending her into a deep depression. One night, her husband finally returns… but something seems off about his behavior. His return is made even more disturbing when he begins to break down mentally and unmarked government employees come to collect Lena and take her to a mysterious facility. When Lena awakes, she is confronted by Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who informs her that her husband was sent inside a strange event that has occurred in the Northern US known as the shimmer. Little is known about it as Kane is the only person who has returned. Seeing the shimmer as the only way to save her husband, Lena joins an expedition group led by Ventress and ventures into the shimmer, where they are confronted by terrifying unexplainable things- both from the outside and from within.
Before diving into what makes this film so special for me, I must first take time to praise the technical elements of the film. From a visual standpoint, the film manages to strike a perfect balance of beauty and terror. The visuals from the inside of the shimmer are truly unique in the way they are presented as they seem natural, yet somehow of a different world. I won’t get into spoilers as to what imagery is seen, but this is easily one of the most unique looking films I’ve ever seen. It presents images that make me want to look away, yet I am so mesmerized by the appearance that I can’t help but stare in awe. The sound design and score also compliment the haunting images perfectly, as the mix between guitar and synthesizers emanate the same alien-like quality that the imagery does. The script, direction and performances are also excellent, but to find what makes Annihilation truly special you must look past the stellar technical elements to even deeper elements.
What sets Annihilation apart from modern science fiction films is that it doesn’t outright explain everything, resulting in a film that might feel frustrating, but somehow even more real. Much like the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey and the aliens from Arrival, not everything in film needs to be explained outright. While in the shimmer, the team encounters strange unexplainable things that don’t always make sense. In any other sci-fi film, these strange things would be explained, usually in a form of clunky exposition. In Annihilation these strange things are never explained. This helps to make the film more realistic as it would be weird for the audience to know why these things to work but not the characters. More importantly, the lack of explanation keeps the mystery of these events in play, which makes for some truly terrifying scenes and leaves the film open to interpretation as to what actually happened. If the film explained everything that happened, then the tension and much of the mystery that make this film so interesting would be lost. While it may seem odd for modern audiences to have everything explained to them, Annihilation is that rare film that helps drive up the tension and mystery through lack of understanding.
Where the film also stands above most other offering by modern cinema is its focus on the themes through the use of human characters. One of the many themes of Annihilation is depression and how certain people deal with it in different ways, resulting in better or for worse. Every character in the film is given a fleshed-out back-story (again, something rare) in which they have had some kind of event that has caused them to deal with depression at some point or another. It is their actions inside the shimmer that show how they cope and how they change as a result. Some deal with it by resisting it, resulting in their destruction as they are unable to accept what happened. Others simply acknowledge it and choose to move on. While others embrace it as part of themselves, resulting in a dramatic evolution. It is this type of exploration of the human psyche that helps elevate the film from a simple sci-fi thriller to something greater. There are other themes that are explored like this throughout the film, ranging from evolution and change to ideas of our own inevitable destruction. The themes and subtle ways they are explored create a multi-layered viewing experience that will have you thinking about the film long after the final credits role.
This is truly one of the most thought-provoking films I’ve ever seen, and while some movie-goers will be put off by its lack of explanation, I think it works perfectly in the film’s favor. Annihilation is not only fantastic on a technical level, but the mystery and open-ended ideas of the film help to make it stand out amongst the sea of similar feeling blockbusters and franchises. For those who are looking for a film that is truly unique and thought-provoking, Annihilation is the film for you.
9/10