Review of Annihilation (2018) by Jamie W — 17 Mar 2018

Slow, lazy, boring and pretentious.

Essentially this movie is about going from point A to point B, with dropping of backpacks whenever possible.

Occasional events that happen during journey do not contribute to story in any way. As result both story and its conclusion are exceptionally boring and confusing(mild leanings into supernatural, instead of completely plausible scientific explanations, do not help either), as practically nothing relevant have any explanation or even hint at explanation. Few short scenes that give glimpses into events that happen in the Shimmer are not unpacked in any way and serve more as a filler. Only meaningful conversation that even attempts to explain Shimmer lasts about 2 minutes. Rest of them are either recollections of past life or are pointless banter. Neither have nay relevance to story.

Annihilation is so open-minded that viewer mind simply shuts down at some point as there is no pieces to connect together. Every time some pattern starts to emerge whole thing takes 180 and goes in completely different direction. Ending is completely disconnected from rest of the movie and as result do not make any sense. If there was some grand idea behind this film, then I fail to see it, even glimpse of it. Its just lazy, relaying on viewer imagination to fill all those huge plot and logic holes in non-existing storyline.

After watching thru it 3 times, in attempt to find some hidden meaning, initial reaction of "What was the point of all this ?", be it bone jigsaw in front of lighthouse or memory card at old base, did not really change in the slightest. Whole thing can be described in one sentence - "something something Shimmer, something something lighthouse".