Into The Abyss: Review of Annihilation

Annihilation

Director: Alex Garland

By Alex Watson

Ex-Machina showed that Alex Garland had the visual flair to make a promising director. Annihilation boosts his credentials further and this picture is a visually jarring affair. Throughout this picture, there is a haunting and malevolent ambience surrounding the events. Garland's story is one that has a continually ticking brain and forces us to consider what could happen with any possible encounters with un-human species?

Lena (Natalie Portman) is a biologist who is still reeling from the disappearance of her soldier husband Kane (Oscar Isaac). When he unexpectedly returns home, he begins acting begins acting distant and strange then suddenly collapses. Taken to a secret location, Lena is told by the mysterious Dr Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh) that Kane's prior mission took him inside 'The Shimmer', an area which is always widening and has claimed the lives all of who enter. Driven by curiosity and desperate to save her husband. Lena agrees to enter 'The Shimmer'.

Aided by an unsettling atmospheric score by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, Annihilation continually finds ways to make our hairs stand on end. There is a sinister presence from the moment Kane first enters Lena's home. At first, she is overjoyed to see the man she loves, but his aloof demeanour soon spoils the party. Garland spends minimal time with backstory and everything we need or want to know about our characters is given to us. Refreshingly, the characters aren't a bunch of 'get some' soldiers looking to off the baddies. Instead, we are given a group of intelligent females who are all from different walks of life. Lena is a biologist, Ventress a psychologist, Josie (Tessa Thompson) is a physicist, tough-talking Anya (Gina Rodriguez) was a paramedic and the quieter Cass (Tuva Novotny) is a geologist. All of these women have afflictions in various ways, but serious question marks point to Ventress' involvement. A soft-spoken yet sly leader, she may not be in this for 'gathering data'

This picture takes a well-trodden story of military people entering the woods and being picked off and turns it on its head. There are some real shocks in store for the audience and some truly horrifying visuals. One particularly graphic scene sees a soldier's intestines turns into a living creature. There is also the pressure question of what precisely is 'The Shimmer'? Inside it seems like perfectly normal and overgrown rainforest, but lurking in the distance is a mysterious presence. Material wise, this movie takes some big diversions away from the novel by Jeff VanderMeer. However, Garland keeps the narrative intrigue with some frequent and shocking turns. There is no interest in jump scares or any cheap trickery, so he makes full use of his bold and smart script.

There is an intelligence to this story that still remains intact despite being in horror territory. Garland forces his audience to consider the possibility of what could happen should another species arrive. Only when do we learn the true meaning of movies title does our blood run slightly cold. Our band of heroines must contend with the likelihood that this is a one-way journey. Lena in particular struggles to keep her marriage a secret so as not to unsettle the others. The final act of Annihilation is the one which will be imprinted on audiences minds. Giving us no end of tension, we are given some hard and shocking truths about earlier events. Salisbury and Barrow's score is particularly effective during this stretch and adds to the increasingly horrific feel.

Natalie Portman gives a central turn which is both tough and immensely compelling. As a woman determined to complete the mission and save her lover, she gives the movie's its heart. On the surface a collected and assured person, Portman gives her a vulnerability that makes her relatable. She's also supported by the excellent Jennifer Jason Leigh. As Ventress, she is a blank slate and her motives are always impossible to determine. Speaking barely above a whisper, she succeeds in giving an air of mystery that never once dissolves. Tessa Thompson also provides excellent support and is fast becoming one of Hollywood's most dependable talents. Likewise with Jane the Virgin actress Gina Rodriguez, who is a lifetime away from the sweet-natured character we are so familiar with.

Annihilation is a clever and unbearably edgy thriller, Alex Garland is now officially a talent to be reckoned with.

Eight Misbehaving: Review of The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight

Director: Quentin Tarantino

By Alex Watson

Shot in glorious 70MM Cinerama, Quentin Tarantino's eighth movie is his strongest showing yet. The Hateful Eight is a lengthy task at over three hours, but the ride never once feels long. A blood splattered but hilarious outing, his Wyoming set mystery both charms and shocks at any given time. Confined the action largely to one room, Ennio Morricone's catchy score helps let the tension build gradually. Over eight separate chapters, this story shows the firm divide over Union and Confederacy and how violence is sometimes the ultimate authority.

John 'The Hangman' Ruth (Kurt Russell) is escorting wanted criminal Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to be hanged at the town of red rock. Fleeing from a looming blizzard he comes across former war veteran Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L Jackson) who is in the midst of the claiming his own bounty. As the storm worsens, the pair is forced to take on board the problematic Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins) who claims to be Red Rock's new sheriff. Taking shelter in Minnie's Haberdashery, the foursome becomes acquainted with four other mysterious souls. Among these include English hangman Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), Mexican Bob (Damien Bachir), quiet cowboy Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) and former Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern).

The violence on display in The Hateful Eight is a rare breed of thrilling, all the figures inside the room are each armed. With insults being traded, the N-Bomb dropped frequently and lines being crossed- one outcome is certain. What this picture does remind us of is what a great writer Tarantino can be and his script on display conjures a different surprise each line. Each scene or chapter stands out in its own way and each time we find ourselves second guessing events. The acid-tongued and unrepentant Daisy is the catalyst from the first frame. Destined to hang, she seeks to create us much of a nuisance as she can muster. Meeting each other in the snow, the mistrustful Warren and Ruth bond over a chance meeting years prior. Warren is a veteran with a questionable record but also has in his possession an alleged letter from Abraham Lincoln.

While stuck in the midst of the blizzard, the room becomes heated quickly and with no clear leader figure present, each man looks exert authority. The smallest details become the biggest as time goes on such as where precisely is Minnie and why would she leave Bob in charge? Gaps begin to appear in stories and alliances break as quickly as they form. Some stories told completely paralyze us, Warren's 'Black Dingus' story will linger in the memory for long after. Mannix is responsible for much of the core action. Swooping into the story with the energy and cockiness of an excited child, Mannix thrives on the chaos. In awe of General Smithers, his mutual hatred and secret admiration of Warren leads to an unforgettable climax before the stories intermission.

With some clever twists and back stories, Tarantino keeps the thrill factor constant in The Hateful Eight.  The words carry the most power in this tale and the verbal duals make this picture crackle. The thick animosity and mistrust that lurks between these eight souls are reminiscent of Tarantino's debut Reservoir Dogs. With no escape from the blowing winds and falling snow, each character is still threatening and cold even with bleeding from a gunshot wound.  Every man is for himself or are they gunning for Daisy? Constantly the suspicion is on each man for being in cahoots with the murderess. As the shots fly and the blood sprays (it wouldn't be Tarantino without it), our presumptions are left dumbfounded.

Of the series of fine performances on display, it is Jennifer Jason Leigh who makes the most impression. Like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, she controls each scene with a slippery malice. Odds on for a supporting nomination, Leigh makes the stories tick and is possibly the closest thing this piece as to having the main villain. Samuel L Jackson once again makes for fine casting by Tarantino and his trademark swagger electrifies events. Warren is a man stripped of his honor, but still is a man you wouldn't cross. Walton Goggins for the first time emerges as a major star and those who know his work from The Shield know his ability to antagonize. Coming across initially as a troublesome and hyperactive monkey, Goggins skillfully becomes an unlikely antihero by the film's close. Though his motives are always closely examined.

The Hateful Eight is the most enjoyable Tarantino effort in some time and thrills us like no other. Fine writing, unique wit and an array of capable stars, it will be hard to have a better experience in 2016!