Annihilation

Writer/Director Alex Garland’s Annihilation is a slow-moving, but spooky science-fiction story that operates smoothly until the stupid, sell-out ending that annihilates the experience.

The story unfolds in reverse as biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) is questioned by Lomax (Benedict Wong) about her experience in a strange, expanding area called The Shimmer that appeared off the coast more than a year prior.  No one who has entered it has ever returned until Lena’s husband (Oscar Isaacs) suddenly reappears after a year’s absence, but is dying. 

Lena joins four other women of science (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gena Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny and Tessa Thompson) as they enter The Shimmer to find out what happened to all those who’ve disappeared.

The world they find is an unearthly fantasy land only populated by a few ferocious beasts.  One by one, the women are annihilated with Lena as the only survivor once she defeats the alien, who had created The Shimmer and tried to become Lena’s clone.

That’s all good and well done.  Unfortunately, however, we discover Lena’s husband is really an alien clone, who has gotten healthy on her return.  Still all good until the last scene, when Lena goes to see him and, instead of killing the future annihilator, embraces him, destroying her kick-ass performance and putting the Earth at risk.

If you follow my reviews, you know I never reveal the plot unless it really sucks or really pisses me off.  I’m still pissing after viewing Annihilation and what could have been a 4 out of 5, becomes a 2 out of 5.