Directed by:
Susanne BierScreenplay:
Eric HeissererCinematography:
Salvatore TotinoCast:
Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Jacki Weaver, Rosa Salazar, Danielle Macdonald, Lil Rel Howery, Tom Hollander (more)VOD (1)
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In this unpredictable sci-fi thriller, based on the bestselling novel of the same name, a mother, Malorie (Sandra Bullock), and two children navigate a hostile, even demonic landscape after an apocalyptic event. As Malorie confronts her ambivalence toward motherhood while learning the rules of her new uncertain existence, she and a small group of survivors must grasp in the dark — figuratively and literally — in the hope that there is life outside of themselves. (AFI Fest)
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Reviews (13)
Anyone could admit that it is only a facsimile of A Quiet Place, however, Bird Box cannot be denied its own merit and the fact that it goes off in a different direction. From a technical and acting point of view, it is a great achievement (I think that more time and space could have been given to John Malkovich’s character especially, I would have appreciated that). However, the retrospective narration was painful - and, because of it, you could predict how the movie would turn out from the beginning concerning most of the characters, so there are no real surprises when something really bad happens. The audience is thus unnecessarily deprived of suspense, and it is impossible to generate an emotional connection with the characters from the start, which is a great shame with this type of movie. Also, perhaps only those with the sunniest of dispositions could have actually believed the ending.
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For me, on the same level of A Quiet Place (which I actually liked a little bit less than the average rating would suggest), though it also has some passages that will make a sane viewer facepalm. The behaviour of the characters doesn’t correspond to what would be sensible a given situation (can anyone explain me why nobody paid attention to the guy who in the flashback was experimenting with cameras around the house?). Taken as a whole, however, it’s professionally put together, with solid performances and direction. But expecting a masterpiece would be a mistake.
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Netflix has been heating up nicely under the boiler for the last quarter of a year and has released another solid genre film that appears to be a little sibling to A Quiet Place. Danish director Susanne Bier, from whom I've only seen the solid thriller In a Better World, is definitely a decent director and add to that a perfect Sandra Bullock, a solid John Malkovich and new discovery Trevante Rhodes, who’s starred in The Predator and 12 Strong. Sarah Paulson is also here in a smaller role. Bird Box is a mix of several films at once, but it takes the best of them and makes a tasty post-apocalyptic cocktail that is top-notch in craftsmanship and acting, engaging in plot, and there are a few surprises. The film manages to build tension brilliantly at certain points and there's a bit of gore too, so I can hardly complain. Solid. It's just a shame that the film ends where it could easily have started. 80%.
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I liked it a little more than A Quiet Place, because this film started, continued and ended with a intimate-depressing atmosphere, and never drifted towards action scenes at all costs. Moreover, the evil that was causing all this was even more mysterious, unknown the entire time and thus more interesting. That's great. And the scene with the car ride to the supermarket was truly superb.
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One of the best directorial works by Susanne Bier, who has endured the dangers of a film in which a piece of hypersensitive kitsch is definitely dormant. But, folks, Sandra is great and Trevante Rhodes shows that his special fragility is as astounding as his musculature. Screenwriter Erik Heisserer is an aspirant and intends to specialize in female alien encounters ... which is why the structure of the two alternating levels of storytelling works very well. Bird Box has a nice rhythm and does not drag, and moreover, it avoids the absurd escalation that damaged the similarly tuned A Quiet Place. It's a bit unfortunate that the point itself feels a little lost, and the main character, despite trying to question her relationship to unwanted motherhood, never quite goes deep enough. But chattering aside, this is very solid genre work in all respects, also because the creators eventually gathered enough courage not to show the evil at all. I wish their Hollywood colleagues would take an example from them. One of the best Netflix originals and a dignified reparation for ultimate evil from Shyamalan's The Happening.
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