Bird Box comes out of nowhere
On December 21, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, was released as the final Netflix original film of 2018. In this psychological thriller, a chilling mood shadows a spontaneous apocalypse, as an unknown presence causes all people who look at it to see their worst fears and regrets; people are forced to see something so personally horrifying that it causes them to commit immediate suicide. Following this plot, a mother attempts to lead two children to a refuge that is just down river, without seeing anything in the process.
As a common movie goer, I won’t lie when I say that the genre of thriller dramas isn’t my style. I’ve never been a fan of how these types of films would draw in audiences, typically following the stupidity of the main characters as everyone is slowly but surely slaughtered until one person remains. It’s always seemed so basic, so routine, and so predictable. In this sense, I went into watching Bird Box with something similar in mind.
Luckily, I can say that I don’t think I could have been further off when describing the characteristics of this movie. Although the essence of these conventional elements were still in the film, a certain connection was established between the mother, Malorie, and the audience. It was strangely enticing to follow her journey, and the difficulties that she had to overcome both personally as a mother as well as the clear impending danger that surrounds her.
Naturally, critics have had their fair share of criticism as well, from plot discontinuities to unrealistic character actions. It still seems unbelievable to me that in every horror movie human beings suddenly forget how to run. Bird Box was no different (although they are all blindfolded, so some slack can be given). Critics are also quick to point out how lucky the characters are, surviving seemingly detrimental situations.
Overall, I’d argue that the film is definitely worth seeing, even for those of you who aren’t fans of the genre. Despite some of the basic dramatic thriller elements this film utilizes, there is a quality that will pull any viewer in, regardless.