Annihilation Review

My lord. Where do I begin?
     I was interested in this movie because I really liked Ex Machina, the other movie by writer-director Alex Garland. This is only the second movie he's directed, but he's written other films, novels, and video games. Annihilation is based on the book by Jeff VanderMeer and written for the screen by Alex Garland. It stars Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson, and Tuva Novotny.
     The movie centers around a phenomenon called The Shimmer, which began with a meteor and is now growing. Missions have been sent in but no one has come out; except for Kane (Oscar Isaac), but he's not quite right. The next mission to go in is the one we care about. A team of scientists go in. The group is made up of strong female characters, but that's not their defining characteristic. Leena (Natalie Portman) comments on that, saying, "all women?" To which Anya replies, "all scientists."
     This movie is a ride. You will try to piece everything together, but ultimately, understanding what is going on within the two hour runtime is nearly impossible. As the mystery unravels it just gets bigger, deeper, and more knotted. It leaves plenty of clues and there are on screen nods: in one scene, Leena is reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which ties into some questions brought up in the movie; she has a tattoo of Ouroboros, a snake eating itself which is a symbol of infinity and immortality. It brings up more questions than it answers and leaves you aching for a sense of what and why.
     Each actor brings a powerhouse performance. They understand the complexities of both their characters and the environment because, as the movie goes on, the minds and bodies of the characters start to deteriorate. But not in any way we've ever seen, thus posing a completely unique challenge.
    The sound and music is amazing, and utilized very well throughout the movie. There are a few points where the score becomes the ultimate focus, and it seems to consume the audience. At one point during the middle, there is a folksy guitar plucking sequence overtop a scene where Leena is exploring, so we don't know what she will see. It would pluck a rhythm, then stay silent for a little, and pluck again. Each time the silence varies in length. This gives the viewer an uneasy feeling, like something is left unfinished. It can be compared to hearing a door open but not close after, or a breath in but not out.
     This movie is visually stunning. The Shimmer is beautifully designed and there are certain shots, both digitally created and not, that will amaze the viewer. The special effects are on another level.
     I liked the structure it used in that it had title cards when different parts of the movie began ('Area X', 'The Shimmer'). The same device is used in Ex Machina with Ava's sessions. It makes the movie feel less like we are viewers simply watching a story play out, but like we are participants in a study, and we're getting all the background knowledge, with which we will need to continue.
     It is brutal. It is gory and scary and high tension at times. But it feels somewhat calm at others, like the movie is breathing with you. It's a phenomenon I can't explain and maybe it's just me that feels that way.
     Annihilation is the opposite of a mindless thriller. It is action packed and exciting, with interesting and engaging characters and a promising story. It poses philosophical questions such as, "what makes you you?" Like, how much of you (your DNA, etc.) can be replaced before you are a different person all together? It is not for the faint of mind: my head was physically hurting at some points trying to make sense of it all. A character played by Benedict Wong serves as the audience's on-screen portrayal: the one who wants answers to questions normally posed, questions Natalie Portman can't answer.
     I cannot begin to delve into the theories and answers that have come out in response to this movie. It's such a complex thing they all seem probable. But the movie will leave you wanting answers, and you won't be able to stop yourself thinking about it for a very long time. Anyway, I'm convinced Alex Garland is on a level not parallel with the rest of us. Maybe he sits in a cabin in the woods and doesn't eat, sleep, or talk for eight months out of the year figuring out how to implode the world's brains. Nevertheless, the movie will leave you questioning even your own reality.