A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.
- Awards
- 16 wins & 63 nominations
- Peyton
- (uncredited)
- Scientist
- (uncredited)
- Special Forces
- (uncredited)
- Special Ops Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Scientist
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Writer/Director Alex Garland, Ranked
Writer/Director Alex Garland, Ranked
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDue to a poorly received test screening, David Ellison, a financier at Paramount, became concerned that the film was "too intellectual" and "too complicated," and demanded changes to make it appeal to a wider audience, including making Natalie Portman's character more sympathetic and changing the ending. Producer Scott Rudin sided with Garland in his desire to not alter the film, defending the film and refusing to take notes. Rudin had final cut.
- GoofsWhen the team takes shelter in the abandoned military base, UK style electrical outlets can be seen, despite the film being set in the US.
- Quotes
Lena: Why did my husband volunteer for a suicide mission?
Dr Ventress: Is that what you think we're doing? Committing suicide?
Lena: You must have profiled him. You must have assessed him. He must have said something.
Dr Ventress: So you're asking me as a psychologist?
Lena: Yeah.
Dr Ventress: Then, as a psychologist, I think you're confusing suicide with self-destruction. Almost none of us commit suicide, and almost all of us self-destruct. In some way, in some part of our lives. We drink, or we smoke, we destabilize the good job... and a happy marriage. But these aren't decisions, they're... they're impulses. In fact, you're probably better equipped to explain this than I am.
Lena: What does that mean?
Dr Ventress: You're a biologist. Isn't the self-destruction coded into us? Programmed into each cell?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: Annihilation (2018)
- SoundtracksHelplessly Hoping
Performed by Crosby Stills & Nash (as Crosby Stills and Nash)
Written by Stephen Stills
Licensed courtesy of Warner Music UK
Published by Gold Hill Music Inc (BMI)
The new science fiction horror flick from writer/director Alex Garland (who also performed both duties on 2014's 'EX MACHINA'). It's about a biologist who volunteers to lead an expedition into a dangerous environmental zone, after her husband comes out of the zone seriously injured, and the sole survivor of his expedition. It's based on the novel, of the same name, by Jeff VanderMeer. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Isaac. It's gotten nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics, but it also performed really poorly at a test screening (which prompted a Netflix release overseas, instead of a theatrical one). I think the film is a very dark and bizarrely beautiful sci-fi masterpiece, and I can also see why a lot of people won't like it.
A year has passed since a team of soldiers entered an environmental disaster zone, and never returned. One soldier, named Kane (Isaac), suddenly reappears, much to the desperate relief of his biologist wife Lena (Portman), but he doesn't remember where he's been or how he got home. Then he has a sudden medical emergency, and is rushed to a hospital. In an attempt to help him, Lena decides to join a team of all female scientists, on an expedition back into the environmental zone. Things of course don't go as planned.
The movie is very hauntingly beautiful, and it's especially highlighted by an awesomely haunting score, and some breathtaking visuals. The story is interesting, but it's definitely slow-paced, and the climax is much more of an intellectual payoff than a spectacular action scene (which many viewers might be hoping for). So I can definitely see why some people would hate this film, but I loved it. It's one I definitely won't forget anytime soon too, and it's great to see Natalie Portman (my old favorite actress) back in top form!
- Hellmant
- Feb 23, 2018
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Vùng Hủy Diệt
- Filming locations
- Former RAF Bentwaters, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, UK(Exterior shots of army base)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $32,732,301
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,071,584
- Feb 25, 2018
- Gross worldwide
- $43,070,915
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1