"I Don't Feel Very Well!"...

Rating: 9/10 (16 July 2019)

After an object hits the Earth, a bizarre phenomenon known only as "The Shimmer" develops. Over time, it begins to spread, building fear that it will ultimately envelop populated areas. No one knows what is taking place inside the event, due to the fact that none of the teams sent in to investigate it, have ever returned. Now, a new team, specifically screened and chosen for the mission, is sent in. This is when the story gets very strange. ANNIHILATION is a fantastic / dreamlike tale of mutation, paranoia, madness, and... something quite unexpected. Natalie Portman is excellent in her soldier / scientist role, as are the rest of the cast, including Jennifer Jason Leigh as the emotionally distant, psychologist of the group. The ideas are intriguing, the special effects are terrific, and the music, as several reviewers have mentioned, is amazing. Though this is a science fiction film, it also has some -very creepy- horror elements, and a pervading atmosphere of dread. One of the few movies seen in a while that made me want to watch it again right away...