Annihilation (2018)

I love science fiction, always have, always will. Throw in a little horror and I'll probably like it even more. Let's face it: the unknown is scary. Or at least it can be, and it doesn't always have to entail monsters and big explosions. That being said, 'Annihilation' is one of those slow burning science fiction/horrorfilms that gets under my skin. I can understand why some people might think it is too slow or too heady at times, but this is a nice antithesis to louder and bigger films (which I also have a penchant for, by the way).

Right off the bat, you know there is something amiss, as a meteor strikes near a lighthouse. Natalie Portman is a professor in Biology and her husband has been missing for more than a year. He went on a military mission but nothing more is known, until all of a sudden he is back at their house, but there is something wrong. He can't remember anything and suddenly he is bleeding profusely. They are both taken to a government installation on the edge of a swamp, where it turns out an enormous barrier is creeping closer and closer. This happened after the meteor struck, and all who venture inside are never seen again, except for Portman's husband so far. This time, they send in five ladies: Portman, a physicist, a paramedic, a geomorphologist and Jennifer Jason Leigh as their teamleader. They soon find that time moves differently in the Shimmer (as it is known). Not only that, but the further they go, the more they discover that this Shimmer affects life on a genetic level, rewriting the code of all organisms. Things get more bizarre the closer they venture to the impact point, but who will make it to the end?

I could give away the entire story, but that would be a real shame, as this is one of those films that you have to undergo without spoilers. Besides, if you really want to know how it all ends, you can easily find it elsewhere on the Internet. But then you would be missing out on a story that gets more bizarre and interesting along the way. Sure, the final act is a little much perhaps, but at that point, you will have gone on a mezmerising ride.

The science fiction-element is downplayed for the most part, but there is no denying that the closing act feels very much like it belongs to that particular genre. It also forms the start of it all, with the crash of the space rock (or was it a vessel?). But for the most part, this is more akin to a psychological thriller with some horrorelements thrown in. Psychological, because like one character aptly puts it: they are all broken in some way, either through loss, personal issues or disease. Maybe it's strange that such people would go on this mission, but it's pretty clear to all that this is as good as a one way trip. Yet, the further they get, the more survival instincts kick in, even as they manifest themselves differently with each of the characters.

The horror elements are sparse, but highly effective. They are most often highly disturbing. Most people will refer to the bear as a good example (and it is), but when these ladies view the video left behind by the soldiers, that is pretty darn gruesome as well. It works so well, because it doesn't happen a lot and because the hideousness of those parts contrasts with the beauty of the world in the Shimmer. Seriously, it looks gloriously otherworldy, even though it seems as though it's the effect of being inside a soap bubble when the sun directly shines above. It works, though. And some of the plants and animals are wonderful to gaze at. Props to the designers.

If you're more into fast paced, action oriented films, this will not be your cup of tea. But if you can find it in yourself to enjoy slow paced yet intriguing films, with some dark twists and turns, then this is probably your thing. Give it a chance, it's better than you might expect.