If there’s one thing nearly everyone fears, it’s not being able to see. When you can’t see your mind conjures up all sorts of things from sounds and shadows around you while you make your way through the darkness, even though nothing’s there that wasn’t there a minute ago when you could see. Now imagine there is something there, and if you see it, you die.
Bird Box is the upcoming Netflix Original horror/drama that features a host of top-notch talent. Directed by Susanne Bier (The Night Manager), and with the screenplay by Eric Heisserer (Arrival), it stars Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, John Malkovich, and Trevante Rhodes. Bullock stars as the mother of two young children who must undertake a perilous journey to safety in a devastated world following the emergence of mysterious creatures that, should you see them, will force you to take your own life.
The official plot synopsis is as follows:
When a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, only one thing is certain: if you see it, you take your life. Facing the unknown, Malorie [Bullock] finds love, hope and a new beginning only for it to unravel. Now she must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they’ll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded.
Now before you tell me this sounds an awful lot like The Quiet Place, I’d like to point out that it’s based on Josh Malerman’s debut novel of the same name which was published four years earlier, in 2014. Anyway, let’s take a look… wait, is that a poor choice of words in this case?
If I’m being perfectly honest I’m not that impressed by what I’ve just seen because despite the pedigree of the people both in front of and behind the camera, what I’m seeing just doesn’t pique my interest. I’ve seen hundreds of “mom saving her kids” thrillers over the years and the sight aspect of this movie just comes across like a forced contrivance. I wanted to avoid A Quiet Place comparisons, but its hearing-based monsters are far more plausible to me than monsters that make you see your deepest fear and then kill yourself – I get suspension of disbelief but it’s just that one step too far.
I don’t think this looks bad by any stretch of the imagination and the drama side of the movie does look good, I just don’t see anything that makes me think this is something I really need to see – which is practically criminal given the cast involved. What do you think?
Bird Box is due to premiere on Netflix on 21 December, so it’s technically a Christmas movie.
Last Updated: October 25, 2018
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 10:01
Next year a new horror movie will come out where if you smell the monster it kills you and then later a new movie comes out where if you taste the monster is kills you. 😛
Original Heretic
October 25, 2018 at 10:05
Then comes the movie that when you fuck the monster, it kills you.
That might be a different genre, though.
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 10:18
Pornhub exclusive or maybe a hentai.
Original Heretic
October 25, 2018 at 10:22
Or it could just be a documentary about marriage.
“Please…oh please don’t kill me!”
“I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to take your life and kill…YOUR DREAMS!”
Admiral Chief
October 25, 2018 at 10:14
Well, technically, smelling my farts will kill you, so it sounds plausible
Original Heretic
October 25, 2018 at 10:08
A bit sad that this is only being adapted to movie now. For the author, I mean.
Because of A Quiet Place, people are always going to make the comparison, even though the book came out way sooner.
I’ve sort of experience it personally, where a story I write ends up being similar to a movie that comes out a few years later.
Pariah
October 25, 2018 at 10:13
I have Netflix so chances are I’ll probably watch this.
Yondaime
October 25, 2018 at 11:12
This movie seems kak dom.
Chris
October 25, 2018 at 11:51
Did not see that coming.
Kenn Gibson
October 25, 2018 at 13:29
Sandra Bullock…. will watch.