Annihilation - A meta-horror about Ascension.

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2019)

Annihilation ---> What is it about? First off; very like a short story by J.G. Ballard, The Crystal World. Go find the story. I'll wait.
The Shimmer - What is it? The movie explains it as a 'refraction' process. This has great relevance for our time (genetic engineering and nanotech being introduced into nature/culture). One could say it is a 'fractal organism' - fractal DNA. There is also a reference to liquification. This is the dissolving of the Self, or the rigid ego hierarchy structure - it is constant transformation. No mortal human could withstand that process for long. We need periods of time in which to be rigid, solid. So the Shimmering is like an acid trip that never ends, mediated by physical law.
In 'Annihilation' the visual data are important. It is not just special effects - information abut the reality of the 'Shimmer' is being conveyed topographically - Rene Thoms Catastrophe Theory is more relevant here than plot devices. I would also reference the information glut (or 'black hole') and the nature of the information age as expressed digitally. This may not be the first film that is actually about its true medium, digital reality; and is probably exploring that reality as a truth to materials concept as found in visual art.