Netflix’s new hit apocalyptic horror film Bird Box has created such a stir not just to the point where it’s breaking views for the streaming site, but also “Bird Box Challenges” in which people undergo blindfolded challenges as does Sandra Bullock’s determined lead character. After watching it for myself, I can see where the fascination’s coming from, and Bullock’s performance is one of the major reasons why.
Based on a novel by Josh Malerman novel, Eric Heisserer’s screenplay blended with Susanne Bier’s direction makes for a fascinating concoction of madness. Bullock is able to generate enough empathy through the course of the story for it to remain compelling, even when the premise itself can seem shaky.
Malorie Hayes (Bullock) and her adopted children, who she’s simply named “Boy” (Julian Edwards) and “Girl” (Vivien Lyra Blair), have all obscured their vision in order to avoid an invisible but malevolent presence that’s made its way around the world. Once the force hits, it begins to cause mass panic and psychological disruptions for anyone who gazes upon the omnipresent creatures, forcing the victim to commit suicide in a variety of fashions.
They climb a boat and trek down a vicious river in the hopes of finding a community of survivors, who they plan to identify through the sounds of birds chirping (the kids have two pet birds on their trip, hence the title of the film). Complicating matters, they must avoid a strange group of people who seem to have been infected by whatever the sinister force is, forcing unsuspecting people to gaze at the terror.
All the while, the film hops between different timelines, detailing Malorie’s life before and during the ensuing disaster five years before the trio’s quest. Malorie was an aspiring painter and soon-to-be mother, who seems oddly unshaken by the news of chaos and death occurring in Europe.
This scene bothered me a bit, as I can understand Malorie being consumed with her own affairs. But when I hear something on the news about tens of thousands of people suddenly offing themselves without explanation, I’d be more than a bit nervous.
The presence arrives in America soon enough though, resulting in the death of Malorie’s sister Jess (Sarah Paulson). She panics and maker her way to a house with other survivors, where they try to ration their food supply and figure out exactly what these entities are.
A supermarket worker named Charlie (Lil Rel Howery) offers some interesting ideas related to various religions and themes of Armageddon in different cultures. Are they demons, or wrathful angels passing judgment on mankind?
This, outside of the fanatical fervor that some of the “possessed humans” take part in, are as far as the film goes into trying to understand the intent of these creatures. The bulk of the movie is devoted to Malorie bonding with the others in flashbacks while switching back to her fiercely protecting her children in the present.
It’s hard not to think about A Quiet Place when watching Bird Box, as it has a number of similar tropes including but not limited to obscuring one’s sense for fear of being attacked by a hidden monster. But where that movie opened with a close-knit family, Malorie’s an introvert who’s just now learning to connect with others.
She’s held up with folks like Charlie who serves as a bit of comic relief, a sweet pregnant girl named Olympia (Danielle MacDonald), the kind-hearted grandmother Cheryl (Jacki Weaver), Machine Gun Kelly in an unexpected cameo, and a handsome military vet named Tom (Trevante Rhodes) who eventually becomes her love interest. John Malkovich as Douglas is the drunken resident cynic of the group, and it’s hard to blame him given the circumstances here.
Salvatore Totino’s cinematography and a score co-composed by Nine Inch Nails’s Trent Reznor add a ton of chilling atmosphere to Bird Box, which helps to carry it over some choppy parts with the script and how these creatures operate. It’s not revealed how some victims of the entities are forced into killing themselves while others have their minds warped, claiming that “it will cleanse the world.” Okay, but what is “it”?
Another problem I felt was how the story began with the river journey, as it hints at who more than likely won’t make it. This was a similar case with Atomic Blonde, which I enjoyed generally but it also had agent Broughton detailing much of the story in flashback to her superiors.
Since that spoiled the fact she was going to survive, it detracted a bit from the suspense, as it does with the other characters around Malorie. It’s Bullock’s vulnerability and courage she gives to her character that holds the film together when it feels shaky.
Bird Box is a decent enough thriller with some glaring flaws and appealing performances. It’s ambitious in its scope in some respects, but other factors are underdeveloped, especially regarding the presence itself. The ending will probably be polarizing with many people as it comes out of nowhere- it’s almost a Shyamalan-esque twist. But its lead actress is able to take all of this madness seriously enough for some compelling moments on her part.
I think Sandra Bullock does the best she can with a bizarre idea, so I think it’s worth a look simple based on that. If you’ve opened your Netflix blinds and have decided to see what this mysterious force is for yourself, write to @Official_FAN at Twitter and tell us how this movie cleansed you!