Spoiler Alert
aNewDomain — What if an extraterrestrial intelligence developed the technology to experiment with DNA-level cross species and cross-biome manipulation, too?
And what if such an otherworldly power could duplicate the form and substance of terrestrial plants and animals in bizarre and disturbing ways while retaining bits and pieces of the originals?
Annihilation attempts to answer and visualize these questions, long a staple of science-fiction. And for the most part, it succeeds admirably.
Fact is, it succeeds way more than just admirably.
The acting, photography, sound and special effects are superb in this film. See this on a big screen. I’ll be surprised if you make it through the entire film without your jaw dropping open at least once.
What also sets this movie apart is Natalie Portman’s acting. As in Jackie, she inhabits the shifting emotional garb of the main character with disturbing complexity. There are many ways this role could have been performed.
Portman and director Alex Garland have managed to somehow project believability in the midst of dreamlike terror.
I think that’s pretty impressive, don’t you?
Don’t forget to check out the trailer up top.
For aNewDomain, I’m Dennis D. McDonald.
This review first ran on Dennis D. McDonald’s DDMCD site. Read it here. – Ed.
