"Annihilation" Review - Sci-Fi On Shimmering Acid

STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING:

“Annihilation” is one giant mindfuck. It is also the best sci fi film I’ve seen since “Arrival”. Not quite on the level of greatness that Alex Garland’s last film, “Ex Machina” had, but boy is this movie something special.

The script is so well written, yet the source material is so bizarre and twisted there’s no way I can explain to you what happens. After you leave the theatre, you’ll have to process the entire movie as you drive home. It’s one of those kinds of scripts. I will say this about the writing, and that is the movie is billed as a horror movie in the trailers, and it really isn’t. Aside from one jump scare and one horrifying scene (both of which are in the trailer), nothing in this film is particularly scary. It’s just full of mindfuckery that takes a lot of knowledge and will to process. Besides the whole philosophical and hair raising script, the effects, the cinematography, and the whole female cast (really Natalie Portman) are truly spectacular and somewhat horrifying.

There’s not really much I can say about it other than it is incredible, and that you should strap in for a truly freaky ride. It’s full of thrills, mind bending sci-fi, and some perfectly timed scenes that showcase the beauty and horror of the shimmer. As Benedict Wong says, “Can you describe it’s form?”. And as Natalie Portman says, “No.”

Two Nebs Up!