Annihilation (2018)

Director: Alex Garland

Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Oscar Isaac

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply.

The first thing you notice about ‘Annihilation’ is the stunning visuals, and then how very different this film is to mainstream sci-fi movies. Lena (Portman) is by far the strongest character and the most likable, maybe because she’s in it for very different reasons than the others. She’s in it for revenge and to find answers. For the other characters it is just a mission. Once inside the Shimmer it gets really interesting. The film’s color is just so brilliant! Inside the Shimmer, we experience what appears to be the next step in evolution, only much faster than is scientifically possible. The Shimmer is creating a New Earth, a perfect world the way it was supposed to be before Man intervened. Notice how the film constantly shows cell splitting – from the opening scene until the end. This is essentially what is happening here, in my opinion: the Shimmer is Earths way of ‘splitting cells’, thus creating the new world. This was completely and utterly beautiful and food for thought. I can’t help but wonder ‘What if…’.

As the film progresses, we see nature start to inhabit the human DNA, the human voice and even human behavior to a certain extent, yet it is clear the new world has no place for humans, and therefore will try to annihilate them. The Shimmer was supposed to be the beginning of this annihilation, but as we later discover Man once again destroys nature. By obtaining a blood sample from Lena, the Shimmer splits these cells and creates a new human specimen, only more superior, as it mirrors Lena in her actions and even thought. This completes the next step in evolution. In this new world, everything is connected in perfect harmony, though, so when the core of this world is destroyed, the new world is now being annihilated. But ultimately – as is the custom with nature – it finds a way to sustain. I won’t spoil the ending, but it was absolutely awesome!

‘Annihilation’ is the first in a trilogy. I can’t wait to see the others!