A strange, thought-provoking, and often surreal story about a mysterious journey into the unknown

Rating: 8/10 (22 March 2018)

Annihilation is a science fiction film starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac. Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina) and based on the novel of the same name, it is a strange, thought-provoking, and often surreal story about a mysterious journey into the unknown.
After a strange meteorite impacts near a lighthouse, it engulfs the surrounding area in a bizarre glowing energy field, which expands in size over time. The US government dubs the phenomenon "The Shimmer" and sends in a group of soldiers, led by Kane (Oscar Isaac) to investigate this anomaly. One year after the soldiers mysteriously vanish, the government send in Kane's biologist wife Lena (Natalie Portman), along with a group of scientists to discover what happened to the missing expedition.
Told in a non-linear narrative, Annihilation dares to challenge its audience's perception of storytelling, with its dark themes and intriguing characters. This is a proper science fiction movie with actual scientific dialogue and very few action scenes, much in the vein of 2016's Arrival so this is definitely not for the casual filmgoer. Director Alex Garland showcases stunning visual effects juxtaposed with the underlying social commentary of human nature and humanity's place in the universe. Natalie Portman shines in the lead role, further proving her range as an actress, and her performance leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, as does the film itself.
I rate it 8/10