In typical monster/post-apocalyptic films, the start is usually the same. An establishment of present society operating at its normal tempo and features. The use of a news report or external signal usually dishes out some information which involves the antagonistic element of the entire movie.
Bird Box follows this format, while at the same time installing the sentimental factor of pregnancy of our protagonist, Malorie. From the beginning, just by Malorie’s tone and dialogue, it is easy to figure out she is a stern human being and not necessarily a happy mother-to-be. Her sister Shannon comments on this and mentions something about how she will learn to love her future child and that she has to give it time, while she tries to ignore reality.
The establishment of the presence that becomes the “monster” comes after a doctor visit, in which Malorie tells the doctor that she doesn’t want to know the gender, which is hinted that Malorie hasn’t necessarily come to terms with the existence of the pregnancy.
In this scene, we begin to see madness break out throughout the public.
SPOILER
People just start killing themselves. If you haven’t seen the movie, that is literally what happens. Suicide. Lots of suicide.
What happens before people commit the act is that their pupils dilate into a disturbing red-tint, and quickly their personality shifts into an extreme melancholy or bliss that forces them to kill themselves.
This is one of coolest implementations of horror I have ever witnessed in a film because it is original and truly terrifying.
There isn’t a giant monster like Godzilla or a Ghost like Buhguul from Sinister attacking individuals, it is purely their mind convincing them to self-harm and accept death.
As the movie progresses, and a horrific montage of suicide is displayed, we begin to see what some survivors of this apocalypse go through in order to avoid the aura of death.
The solution becomes to simply not look at whatever this “thing” is.
This is where the blindfolds and blinds come in.
Throughout the film, us, the viewers never get to see anything but shadows and wind, which is something I also praise this movie on, because it makes you feel like you’re a survivor and not just an omniscient viewer.
We learn from one survivor, Gary, that the aura affects already sick individuals in a different way. This man was already psychotic and him seeing the light caused him to want to show others, by force.
It appears that this aura caused people like him to become missionaries, almost as if it were a spiritual being that made people suicidal.
I should also mention that during that scene of the psychotic outbreak, we get a glimpse of what could possibly be the visual of the monster from demonic drawings Gary sketched and laid out on a coffee table. It appeared to be a Cthulhu looking creature, or simply a demon, but that’s just my take.
I’ll refer to these individuals as “mad lads”.
The other setting of this movie is 5 years after the initial event, in which Malorie is surviving with her new family. During these scenes, her hardship is highlighted through travel by boat to a safe zone from her prior house that was attacked by the “mad lads” of the event.
She has 2 children with her, which she gave the names “Boy” and “Girl”
This is the only part of the movie I had a problem with because it felt completely unrealistic. It’s very hard to convince me that somebody who is not a Navy Seal would be able to travel with 2 young children down a river for multiple days with limited food and no vision.
I can’t get snacks from my kitchen at night without the lights on, I don’t see how someone could literally be blind and travel a rapid-induced river on a rowboat without dying.
Anyway, I digress.
The ending involves her making it to a sanctuary which is actually just a school for the blind, where she ends up happily ever after.
Overall, the movie had original elements that disturbed even me, a huge fan of the Saw series.
Sandra Bullock once again kills it in a survival film, yes, I’m looking at you Gravity.
The supporting cast also added some great moments, including the character Charlie, played by Lil Rel Howery, who added some of the best comedic moments.
I will mention that I felt some plot-holes existed.
– One character who was locked in a garage, with the door opened, did not turn.
– A shotgun was obviously in possession of Gary, the “mad lad”, but somehow he was killed by it from the character who clearly wasn’t in possession.
– Two babies survived and grew up moderately healthy in a lifestyle of rationed food and extremely limited resources. They also developed the English language quite well, and never became curious to look outside…
My brother put his hand in the hot oven and burned it when he was toddler because he was curious, babies are curious, there’s no way they wouldn’t look.
– The entire rowboat-river scene, as I mentioned.
– Some others, but I’ll let @cinemasins take care of them.
CONCLUSION
I’m not a big number-rating guy because I would give The Godfather a 10, but also The Room a 10, so I can’t say much.
I liked this film, and if you own Netflix it is 100% worth checking out.
Chris Di Mieri 