Top "End of the World" movie out there

Rating: 9/10 (7 January 2019)

Back in 2008 when M. Night Shyamalan put out The Happening, he was laughed out of Hollywood. The plot of that film is a mysterious 'happening' left largely unexplained forces millions to kill themselves and it examines the survivors.
Well, 10 years later there is a wave of these films. A Quiet Place and Netflix own This Is How It Ends are just two examples. The film is, of course, so much more about the characters and survival than about the cause of the end of the world, and that can be frustrating as we are often left without answers.
Enter Bird Box. This is the best version of this type of film I have seen. Netflix has constantly improved their original content, and the cast is a powerhouse here. Unlike USA Production's The Purge which boast such household names as Reed Diamond and Lee Tergesen, Bird Box collects Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich. In fact, just about every name in the credits is recognizable!
Bullock - in my favorite role of hers ever - is a single pregnant artist returning from the doctor when suddenly people start to kill themselves. In fact, anyone who sees the outside world ends up killing themselves. The film then bounces between the end of the world as it happens, and a present day where Bullock must attempt a river journey for the hopes of survival. Both plots are engaging and suspenseful.
The flaws are there, but they can't be avoided. There are unexplained side plots, relationships that are not flushed out, and the obligatory obviously stupid choices made by characters. However, all these flaws are minor compared to the general quality of the film. The characters are believable, and relatable.
I want more of an explanation, which of course there isn't much of, but that is not the point. This is about people and is micro, not macro. There are some other plot points which could easily have been left out all together, but again these don't ruin the film.
With a focus on drama and theme, and off of action and plot the film does hit a speed bump here and there, but it's not enough to take any of the paint off this work of art!