Review of Annihilation (2018) by Kevin P — 08 May 2018

Strengths: Visually, Annihilation works on many levels. The "Shimmer" that they enter looks cool on its own, but then the creatures and things they encounter while in there all look great. The film unravels nicely and drops enough hints along the way that you get more and more intrigued by what's happening. Natalie Portman (Lena) does very well as the lead, giving us someone to root for despite not showing a ton of emotion. Tessa Thompson (Josie Radek) is good in a small role, while Jennifer Jason Leigh (Dr. Ventress) might be the scene stealer as the vulnerable but tough woman of the crew. Alex Garland does very well with setting up the atmosphere once they enter the "Shimmer." The scenes in there feel way more tense. For example, when they're trapped in the room with the "bear," it's hard not to feel nervous for the characters. Lastly, I was a big fan of the work Oscar Isaac (Kane) put in, especially during the handheld camera scene. He sells the moment as truly frightening and it's one of the best moments of the film.

Weaknesses: As smart as the film attempts to be, there are some plot holes. I understand they wanted to leave the movie on a bit of a cliffhanger, but the stuff surrounding whether or not it was the real Kane at the end felt off. If it wasn't, it seems odd that he would heal after what Lena does to the lighthouse. If it was the real Kane, then other parts of the movie don't make sense. The scenes in the lighthouse involving Lena and her doppelganger felt odd. They were shot well, but confusing and not in the good way. Also, a few too many of the characters felt cliché. Gina Rodriguez (Anya Thorensen) did well in her role, but the character felt like she was just there to fill a role that was expected in a group. The same goes for Josie and Cass (Tuva Novotny).

Overall: There's a lot to like about this film. It starts out as a gripping tale with some great special effects and some solid acting. The ending leaves something to be desired and there are multiple plot holes that stood out to me. Still, it's worth checking out, especially if you like sci-fi.