Another Beautiful and Thought-Provoking Film From Alex Garland

Rating: 7/10 (5 October 2019)

The film follows a team of individuals as they progress through a mysterious alien dimension known as the Shimmer; all the while increasingly noticing the affects the area has on them and the environment. The acting on every character's part was great, especially the lead: Natalie Portman. As someone who is unfortunately super critical of unconvincing roles, Portman's character really stood out to me and felt real. Additionally, the amazing visuals seen before in "Ex Machina" definitely translate over to this work as well. The cinematography and images in "Annihilation" are hauntingly beautiful. I really enjoyed the way the film used aspects like genetic mutation and alteration to convey the theme of metamorphosis. The director, Alex Garland, is adept in producing suspenseful, intriguing stories, while still being able to work in powerful philosophical concepts that make audiences think.