Never Quite Reaches Its Intriguing Potential

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2019)

Opening on an instantly gripping note with promise of more thrills waiting ahead, Bird Box paves a solid foundation during its first act yet fails to fully capitalise on it, thanks to the unnecessarily drawn out plot that allows the tension to dissipate, and the weak ending that wraps the entire journey on an underwhelming note.
Directed by Susanne Bier (In a Better World), the set up is brilliant, for it creates the right kind of intrigue, and the decision to not show the supernatural entities works in its favour as well. However, the film's 124 mins runtime isn't earned, it has too many characters & it indulges in subplots that don't contribute much to the final outcome.
The perilous journey down the treacherous river sequence had all the ingredients to be one potential nightmare for the viewers but Bier fails to keep things taut & tense as the plot detours to less interesting events. Sandra Bullock plays her part responsibly plus the two kids aren't drawbacks either. However, that insane twist was by all means an insane choice indeed.
Overall, Bird Box begins on a promising note yet finishes in a way that leaves a lot to be desired. The scares are intermittent yet effective plus the creepy vibe is well-sustained for the most part which might keep the interest alive for many viewers but there was room for improvement here. A strong start marred by a downhill journey, Bird Box is another middling entry in both its genre & Netflix canon.