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Annihilation (2018)


Annihilation (2018)



7/10



Starring
Natalie Portman
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Gina Rodriguez
Tessa Thompson


Directed by Alex Garland



The argument over whether this movie is better suited for the big screen or the small screen (Netflix) is one I feel leans toward the latter.
This sci-fi drama explores an event where a specific area of the planet—a lighthouse—is struck by something from space. The area is cut off from the rest of the world by a glowing, dome-like barrier. Inside this barrier, rapid mutations are transforming everything within—plants and animals—into something more advanced and terrifying.

Natalie Portman carries this movie with the help of excellent direction, delivering a standout performance as Lena, a biologist and former military officer. It was during her military service that she met her husband, Kane.
Kane regularly goes on missions for his country and always returns home to his wife. The movie is set on a timeline where Lena is being questioned about her return from visiting the area enclosed by the glow. Her story begins when Kane embarks on a mission, keeping its location a secret from her. After he leaves, he doesn’t return for a year.


Everyone, including Lena, comes to accept that Kane is likely dead. Her life seems to stall as guilt keeps her stuck in the past.
One evening, while organizing the house, she looks up and sees Kane standing in the doorway. She runs to him, but as they talk, she senses something is off. Soon, Kane begins coughing up blood as his internal organs start to fail, causing severe internal bleeding.

Lena calls for an ambulance, but before they can reach the hospital, they’re intercepted by the military and taken to a secret base.

When Lena wakes up at the base, she’s told that Kane is still alive but in critical condition. She’s questioned extensively about what Kane told her upon his return, but her inability to make sense of his fragmented statements leads the facility’s director to explain Kane’s mission.
She tells Lena about the location where the object from space hit and how a glowing barrier from that area is expanding. Kane and his team were sent to investigate, but only Kane returned.


After much discussion, Lena decides to join the next team to explore the area. Upon entering the glow, she wakes up from what feels like a deep sleep, with no memory of setting up camp. She steps out of her tent to find her colleagues preparing to head out.
They inform her that they, too, have no recollection of setting up camp or even going to sleep, but based on their food supplies, they believe they’ve been there for four days.

Their journey to the center of the glow leads them to encounter mutated animals that attack them and discover video clips suggesting that entering the glow was a mistake.

The movie is thrilling, packed with horrific scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s guaranteed to impress with its excellent direction and outstanding CGI effects.
What makes this movie stand out is its ability to surprise you at every turn. Nothing goes as expected, and that’s what makes it so compelling.



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