Bird Box – The movie that is happening
So, the hot topic film right now is ‘Bird Box’ on Netflix.
The horror/thriller! Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I say it scared me? Absolutely not.
This post-apocalyptic feature involves a demonic or alien-like presence which causes people to commit suicide by simply looking in its direction. Hence why you’ve seen Sandy Bullock in a blindfold so much over the internet.
Sandra Bullock is a personal favourite actress of mine, as her career speaks for itself and her versatility is insane. Comedian, action star, sex icon, drama queen, science fiction explorer, and whatever ‘love potion no. 9’ professes itself to be, she was the star of it.
So, to me, she can do no wrong in a film and I feel her performance was exceptional. The film revolves around her story in trying to escape this mysterious death rampage, meeting a group of diverse people who live to survive. It was a pleasure seeing John Malkovich in this film as he’s a remarkable actor, whether characters he’s playing tend to lean asshole (or crazy, insane characters) or good guy (dear sweet Lennie). You can’t help but warm to him and be on his side.
I’ve heard a lot about this movie before I decided to jump on the bandwagon and watch it, things such as; It’s terrified people into going outside. I can tell you nothing is going to get you! In relation to this film, I’m not so sure about anything else, as there’s some vague and slightly political aspects, a little bit of a motherhood narrative (which works) and overall a theme about survival placed as importance over virtue. Would you open the door, if someone knocked?
People have said it’s like a follow up or rip off of the film ‘The Happening’. People have said it takes heavy themes from ‘A Quiet Place’. I see this movie as a hybrid of both, although it possesses far more quality than the former. So I guess well done Netflix, you bested ‘The Happening’
Others have mentioned it demonstrating mental health and anxiety issues in society, saying people are blind and ignorant towards it. This statement is a big one and I can understand it and the more I think about it, I can see how people can get to that conclusion. But I’m not so sure it’s an intentional thing. The line from the movie “we’re making the apocalypse great again” helps portray a writer’s room that is filled with mountains of darts and a gigantic dartboard.
There are many frustrating elements to this film, however, that play well to its thriller status; don’t let that guy in the house, how did you guys survive for so long? That’s a tad unrealistic (But we say that in many films, yet it’s still a frustration) and so on. Watch it and you’ll see what I’m saying, that’s if you haven’t yet seen it. I think everyone has now!
It’s violent, and has suspension, though the 3rd quarter was a bit boring. Worth a watch though! And I’m reading a lot of reports of people attempting ‘Bird Box’ challenges, involving blindfolds and real life pain. To sum up this movie, to sum up how people hype this movie, and to sum up how this movie inspires audiences to do stupid things, I will say only this: It’s the blind leading the blind.