The British-American co-production ‘Annihilation’ (2018) was directed by Alex Garland, who rose to fame with ‘Ex Machina’ (2014) and who has just released ‘Civil War’, the war film that everyone is talking about. Imagine a dystopian future more real than you think. The film, based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, immerses us in an intriguing science fiction world in psychological thriller format that will test the limits of reality and human perception. The plot follows biologist Lena, played by Natalie Portman, whose husband has just returned with amnesia from an expedition to an intriguing government-cordoned area that is controlled by an extraterrestrial force. Lena joins a group of scientists who delve into the mysterious area, where natural laws seem to be altered and life evolves in unimaginable ways. The film is currently available in the Netflix catalog.
The discreet passage of ‘Annihilation’ through the awards circuit and film festivals did not prevent it from winning the award for Best Visual Effects at the awards gala granted by the Chicago Film Critics Association, where it also obtained another nomination in the category of Best Artistic Direction which, however, could not be obtained. The film was also nominated for the Critics Choice Awards in the category of Best Science Fiction or Horror Film, where it also did not win, being defeated by ‘A Quiet Place’ (2018), by John Krasinski.
One of the most interesting technical aspects of ‘Annihilation’ is its production design and visual effects. The movie creates a surreal and disturbing world within the area known as The Shining, using stunning visual effects to bring the alien creatures and landscapes to life. The art direction and photography contribute to creating a disturbing and disturbing atmosphere.
The cast of ‘Annihilation’ is headed by Oscar winner Natalie Portman, who delivers a strong and captivating performance as biologist Lena. The cast is completed by names such as Oscar Isaac or Jennifer Jason Leigh, who contribute their craft and experience, along with other lesser-known performers such as Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Benedict Wong. The chemistry between the actors and the group dynamics are crucial to the development of the plot and the exploration of themes such as identity and self-destruction.
The critic Fotogramas of ‘Annihilation’ defined it as a “disturbing, daring film, with poetic and beautiful images‘Annihilation’ plays in the league of author sci-fi – like ‘Under the Skin’ (J. Glazer, 2013) a few years ago –, capable of alternating its powerful philosophical charge (the origin of life, genetic error as the engine of evolution) with the adrenaline rush or the subtle portrait of well-defined characters (and better worked by the main quintet) with an apotheotic final climax and open to a thousand interpretations and questions, among them the meaning of human existence (…) As grandiose as it is intimate, as cerebral as it is emotionally intense.”
