'Annihilation' A Review

Annihilation is a scifi thriller based on the novella of the same name. Lena(Natalie Portman), a John Hopkins Biology professor, is mourning the loss of her husband Kane(Oscar Issac) when he shows up at their home seemingly changed. He quickly falls ill and he along with Lena are taken into a nondescript government compound which is on the outskirts of a geographical/biological phenomenon known as "The Shimmer". Through conversations with the enigmatic Dr. Ventress(Jennifer Jason Leigh) Lena discovers that Kane is the only survivor of multiple expeditions into the phenomenon. After meeting the three other women who are going on the next expedition, lead by Ventress, Lena decides to join.

Portman gives an compelling performance, subdued and contemplative. Leigh seems to be the one most able to translate and transmit the bizarre and surreal tone the story intends to evoke. Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Tuva Novotny as the other three members of the team all do good work, Rodriguez especially is magnetic, but aren't given as much screen time. There is a sense in the second act, as the team makes its way into The Shimmer, that there was a lot cut, it feels rushed and disjointed not in a deliberate way. There is palpable chemistry between the five core ensemble and they all have flashes that really captivate but ultimately the story, such as it is, and the production design carry more weight than the performances.

Visually the film is stunning, inspiringly odd and captivating. The various elements of The Shimmer are bizarre, beautiful, and sometimes horrific. The story is simple to the point of almost being an experiment, there are flashbacks to fill in some context and backstory but it is ultimately not really necessary. There are a couple major elements that depart from the book with varying degrees of success. Like it's source material the film is difficult to pin down, disquieting, and not altogether satisfying. But it is beautiful, deliciously strange, and unique if somewhat troublesome.

See It.