Nightmare evolution

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2018)

Annihilation:
Written and directed by Alex Garland
This movie was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It comes from Alex Garland, the director of Ex Machina, another terrific mind twisting science fiction film. This movie takes you to a place that is alien in conception but exudes just a tiny bit of the familiar. It is a world that is ever changing even when you don't want it to.
This movie is about a team of scientists who venture into this bubble called The Shimmer in search of its meaning. Many have entered it but none have returned with the exception of Natalie Portman's husband. He didn't come back the same though. Whatever happened inside changed who he is on a fundamental level. What they don't know is it changes everybody and everything.
I won't give anymore away because finding out what it all is and what it all means. The exploration is the crux of the idea. It leads you through everything piece by piece and little by little. It latches you into this alien and nightmare world. It then proceeds to remove what comfort you might have. It evolves and devolves at the same time.
This was a weird slow burn. I kinda loved it. The emotions coming from the actors has an air of detachment. They're all scientists in some fashion so they're viewing things from a distance. It is not necessarily cold. They're holding it all in. At least until their world starts to blur and decay right in front of their eyes. There is one creature that is the biggest form of nightmare fuel imaginable. It is the bear/human hybrid with a skull face and the screaming voice of it's last victim. Yeah pretty freaky.
Overall this was a terrific, slow, weird and crazy nightmarish movie. I want to see more science fiction like this that lives inside of its ideas. I give this movie a B.