Review of Annihilation (2018) by Crispyboi — 25 Mar 2018

This movie is pretty mind boggling in my opinion, so this is just my take on it..I found myself contemplating and discussing this film for hours after with friends and or myself. A movie where existentialism and introspection are both prevalent and well intertwined throughout the entire film.

Lena and her team, all women scarred by traumas in their life embark on a search, seeking answers for something greater (the shimmer). However as they delve deeper, each character has their moments of reflective insight in which they realise they need to look inward to find answers or in some cases a route of pure self destruction, which is another theme that it really lends itself to.

Specifically when Lena reaches the lighthouse, where she is mirrored identically by this altered version of herself, it is an initial terrifying struggle for both Lena and the viewer, as it really encapsulates the feeling of constriction as when she moves, it moves with her.

If she fights it fights back, if she runs it runs. It’s like a beautiful dance of unease and torment, that is until she realised that all she has to do is accept and come to terms with this version of herself, it’s only then when she can escape.

This is all showcased through the trippy cinematography and deep colour pallet that engulfs the environment the film is set in. The juxtaposition of breathtaking colour and art, and the dreary undertone of the unknown & the ever-changing refraction of DNA leaves the viewer with a genuine unique and memorable visual journey, regardless of what you can take from the films multi faceted and interpretational meanings (anything goes, really.

. I've read theories that this film is just basically an allusion to cancer). Also Let us not forget that this film at its core is reminiscent of a cerebral sci-fi film with a twang of absurdist horror, for example the scene with the bear and it’s roar mixed with the harrowing shrieks of pain from shepherds final moment is utterly disturbing and terrifying.

One last thing, can we not forget about the score. Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, bravo my dudes. The pure unease and tension of the build up of abstract, environmental noises with harrowing synths and bellowing surges of sub-bass to keep you planted on your seat.

Just brilliant music imo.