If you’re a regular reader, then I’m sure you’ve heard me harp on over and over again that Science-Fiction is probably my favourite genre of fiction. I could probably name Alex Garland as one of my all time favourite sci-fi writer/directors since I was first exposed to his work with 2002’s zombie thriller 28 Days Later (directed by Danny Boyle). His work on 2007’s Sunshine (also directed by Boyle) was incredible, and it remains one of my all time favourite sci-fi stories ever. In preparation for his third directorial venture, Men, I have revisited Garland’s films, 2014’s Ex_Machina, and now 2018’s Annihilation. Whilst I prefer Ex_Machina out of the two, Annihilation re-affirms why I love the sci-fi genre so much because of just how far it commits to its premise and themes.
Following the unexpected return of her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) from a military operation which he cannot remember, Lena (Natalie Portman) is taken to ‘Area X’, a secret facility designed to study an extra terrestrial phenomena known as ‘The Shimmer’. The Shimmer first began emanating approximately three years ago from a nearby lighthouse but has been expanding ever since and will soon encroach on populated regions. No expedition sent into the Shimmer has ever returned, and the Shimmer appears to block all communications signals attempting to pass through it. Kane is the only person to have made it back alive, but his body is rapidly deteriorating.
Needing to understand what happened to her husband, Lena, a biologist, joins a task force led by psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), along with physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson), geomorphologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Novotny), and paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez); together they will venture into the Shimmer to try and understand what it is and what is causing it.
Following the unexpected return of her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) from a military operation which he cannot remember, Lena (Natalie Portman) is taken to ‘Area X’, a secret facility designed to study an extra terrestrial phenomena known as ‘The Shimmer’. The Shimmer first began emanating approximately three years ago from a nearby lighthouse but has been expanding ever since and will soon encroach on populated regions. No expedition sent into the Shimmer has ever returned, and the Shimmer appears to block all communications signals attempting to pass through it. Kane is the only person to have made it back alive, but his body is rapidly deteriorating.
Needing to understand what happened to her husband, Lena, a biologist, joins a task force led by psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), along with physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson), geomorphologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Novotny), and paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez); together they will venture into the Shimmer to try and understand what it is and what is causing it.
Annihilation is best experienced with as little info as possible, so I’m going to try and keep the specifics to a minimum as I think this is a film that really should be seen by more people. Alex Garland has delivered once again with a story that’ll keep you thinking long after the credits roll, and yet all of the science and conflict is very rooted in basic human needs, much like Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Fans of Jeff Vandermeer’s novel will find some major deviations from the book, but in order to adapt Annihilation to a visual medium I feel like Garland has reshaped the key plot points into something that retains the novels stylings. It’s faithful to the themes and characters, but how it all plays out has some big changes.
It straddles the genres of sci-fi and horror quite well. Most of the science is based in fact, Lena is a biologist and so all of the phenomena she encounters she studies to try and find rational scientific explanations.
The horror of course comes from the sense of isolation and the unknown. There’s also a fair bit of body horror as the group encounters mutated plant and animal life, including one nightmare inducing scene with a bear.
Portman is really excellent here. She has real chemistry with Oscar Isaac in the few scenes they share, and the rest of the time she has this cautious and analytical stance that really helps sell this strange world that’s mutating before her eyes.
Thompson is also strong here in a role quite different from what she is normally seen in. Far more sombre and reserved than the usual loud and funny characters we often see her play.
It straddles the genres of sci-fi and horror quite well. Most of the science is based in fact, Lena is a biologist and so all of the phenomena she encounters she studies to try and find rational scientific explanations.
The horror of course comes from the sense of isolation and the unknown. There’s also a fair bit of body horror as the group encounters mutated plant and animal life, including one nightmare inducing scene with a bear.
Portman is really excellent here. She has real chemistry with Oscar Isaac in the few scenes they share, and the rest of the time she has this cautious and analytical stance that really helps sell this strange world that’s mutating before her eyes.
Thompson is also strong here in a role quite different from what she is normally seen in. Far more sombre and reserved than the usual loud and funny characters we often see her play.
Annihilation is a gorgeous film to look at too with some gorgeous environments, great CGI work, and excellent cinematography. Again, without revealing too much, The Shimmer alters whatever is inside it and so we’re treated to some truly incredible and wholly unique plant and animal designs that are all grounded within our reality but also given a sci-fi twist. Combined with Geoff Barrow & Ben Salisbury’s haunting score, Annihilation is unsettling but also intriguing in design.
Annihilation is the kind of film I never want to stop talking and theorising about because with its ambiguous design and lack of concrete answers there’s so many ways to interpret what you’re seeing. But that doesn’t mean it’s lazy scriptwriting, it just expects more brain power from you than the average film. As much as I’d love to talk about some of the more spoilery areas of the film I think Annihilation is best experienced with as little information about it as possible, I’ve already really said too much if you’re to go in fresh.
I would recommend Annihilation to anyone in a heartbeat. Despite being sci-fi and even having elements of horror in the mix, it’s a film that anyone can enjoy regardless of how invested in those genres you are. It never feels too far beyond reality to be plausible, and at its core are everyday human conflicts. It just does what sci-fi does best, reflect the human condition in extraordinary circumstances to allow for deeper understanding of our flawed yet beautiful existence.
Annihilation is the kind of film I never want to stop talking and theorising about because with its ambiguous design and lack of concrete answers there’s so many ways to interpret what you’re seeing. But that doesn’t mean it’s lazy scriptwriting, it just expects more brain power from you than the average film. As much as I’d love to talk about some of the more spoilery areas of the film I think Annihilation is best experienced with as little information about it as possible, I’ve already really said too much if you’re to go in fresh.
I would recommend Annihilation to anyone in a heartbeat. Despite being sci-fi and even having elements of horror in the mix, it’s a film that anyone can enjoy regardless of how invested in those genres you are. It never feels too far beyond reality to be plausible, and at its core are everyday human conflicts. It just does what sci-fi does best, reflect the human condition in extraordinary circumstances to allow for deeper understanding of our flawed yet beautiful existence.