Annihilation

[Satai with Punsch]

I since read the books, and there is a lot more depth in terms of the central concepts, the film focused far more on the body horror, but does get the overall 'feel'. On the books, the first one is the best (excellent), the 2nd and 3rd can be a bit plodding with too much exposition that doesn't really drive anything forward. As the author clearly isn't interested in giving any easy 'answers' to the zone, and the why or how of it... I found the 3 book format to be overkill. Could have been done in one book. I did, however like that it let you make your own mind up and develop your own theories.

Sounds like something too look into.

[Ubik]

I liked Annihilation a lot. It managed to feel both Lovcraftish and like a compilation of Stalker and Solaris at the same time. Sure, it might not hold up if you start taking it apart, but it was visually very nice.

I since read the books, and there is a lot more depth in terms of the central concepts, the film focused far more on the body horror, but does get the overall 'feel'. On the books, the first one is the best (excellent), the 2nd and 3rd can be a bit plodding with too much exposition that doesn't really drive anything forward. As the author clearly isn't interested in giving any easy 'answers' to the zone, and the why or how of it... I found the 3 book format to be overkill. Could have been done in one book. I did, however like that it let you make your own mind up and develop your own theories.

[Satai with Punsch]

I liked Annihilation a lot. It managed to feel both Lovcraftish and like a compilation of Stalker and Solaris at the same time. Sure, it might not hold up if you start taking it apart, but it was visually very nice.

[Ubik]

Even though I've loved Garland's work at times (The Beach, Sunshine), I hated this. I thought it mostly played like a mediocre horror movie.

The books are very interesting. I have philosophical issues with them, but I enjoyed them tremendously. The movie only keeps a handful of elements.

I was glad to have not read the books in this case, as I could enjoy the film on its own merits as a stand alone product. I plan to read the books as plenty of fellow SF nuts have recommended them. I'd say it was head and shoulders above over any mediocre horror film, even just the visual design of the things was great.

However, I can fully understand the film feeling shallow if you have an attachment to the books, which as you say, I hear are far more complex.

[Jonas]

Even though I've loved Garland's work at times (The Beach, Sunshine), I hated this. I thought it mostly played like a mediocre horror movie.

The books are very interesting. I have philosophical issues with them, but I enjoyed them tremendously. The movie only keeps a handful of elements.

[Ubik]

Watched Annihilation yesterday, which has made its way onto Netflix. I was under the impression it was going to get a theatre release, but looks like its gone straight to streaming services, which is fine with me!

It's Alex Garland who did Dredd, Ex Machina and 28 Days Later. It’s based on first of the Southern Reach novel by Jeff Vandermeer. I must stipulate I haven’t read the books (yet), but the film has definitely driven me to go pick them up. I was drawn to it due to the visuals and overall theme of nature gone awry, in a very Ballardian way.

The film is excellent, visually striking and thought provoking. Perhaps like a more linear, more easily digestible version of Tarkovsky’s stalker. It also has echoes of my favourite Ballard novel ‘The Crystal World’. Definitely deserves your attention if you like tense SF / Suspense, with some slight body horror tinges but nothing too extreme. Worth your time if you like films like Alien, Stalker, or Garland’s other efforts.