Annihilation (2018), directed by Alex Garland

Lena is a biologist, formerly in the Army, whose soldier husband went MIA while on a secret mission a year ago. She is depressed and isolated but continues with her academic career. A strange circumstance sees her investigating Kane's disappearance, along with a team of military scientists, who happen to all be women. Written by Alex Garland, with a stellar cast including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac, the film is somehow less than the sum of its parts. Portman is good as Lena; Isaac’s role is barely more than a cameo; and JJL’s performance as a detached psychologist is just odd. There are good things about it; there is a suitably creepy atmosphere, some gripping action and suspense. The flashbacks work well to reveal the reasons for Lena’s mindset. Some interesting, even intriguing concepts are introduced but not fully explored, possibly because it is based on the first book of a trilogy. But the tone is off. For a good portion of the film Portman and JJL speak in a monotone, which is clearly a deliberate directorial choice, but is irritating. Ostensibly a sci fi/horror flick, the film seems confused about what it’s really all about – is it actually an allegory for grief and redemption?