If you haven’t seen the trailer for Annihilation yet, you should probably prepare yourself.
As time goes by, I’ve found the instances where I get properly excited about an upcoming film are getting fewer and farther between. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy watching movies. It’s just that there always seems to be a mile-long list of things that need to be forgiven or ignored for that to happen. And when your favorite genre is sci-fi, like mine is, this can get exhausting. With the amazing movies that writer/director Alex Garland has had his hand in, however, this isn’t really a thing.
Alex Garland made his directing debut with Ex Machina in 2014. (If you have not seen this yet, please stop what you’re doing and watch it. We’ll be here when you get back.) Obviously, we know this film was amazing. But what you might not be aware of is just how many other fantastic projects Garland has played a part in. He started his career at 26 with none other than the cult classic novel The Beach (1996), and has since written screenplays for several exceptional movies including 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), and Never Let Me Go (2010).
After watching the trailer, it looks promising that Annihilation will hold up with his other works. From what can be determined from the 1.5 minutes of information, an area of land covered by some kind ethereal oil bubble has begun to change in some inexplicable ways. Sometimes bizarre flora and fauna that look like something from the Codex Seraphinianus are the result, sometimes it’s trippy lights and architecture, and others it’s strange death. We join the story—or at least the trailer—when a small group (of all women, from what I can tell) enters the bubble to investigate. Of course, there’s a little more to it, though not a whole lot. I suppose we’ll just have to wait until February 23rd to know more. That or, you know, read the award-winning book series the movie is based on.
