‘Absolutely phenomenal.’ You’ll be watching this.
Aside from changing how we all watch films an TV shows, Netflix has shown that it’s an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to film distribution. Despite the fact that The Cloverfield Paradox is a pretty poor film, the ability of the online streaming giant to release films without any trailers, press screenings or marketing is unparalleled.
In terms of marque films, it appears that Netflix have picked up a gem after they acquired the rights to Alex Garland’s latest sci-fi epic, Annihilation.
You may already know that Garland was the man who directed the wonderful Ex Machina and he’s also one of the most prolific screenwriters alive – 28 Days Later, The Beach, Sunshine, Dredd, Never Let Me Go are just some of his previous films.
Based on Jeff VanderMeer’s best-selling Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation kicks-off after a group of soldiers enter an environmental disaster zone with only one soldier coming back alive, although he’s seriously injured. In an attempt to save his life, his wife Lena (Natalie Portman), a biologist, volunteers for another expedition into the zone to figure out what happened to him.
The book is absolutely terrifying and the first trailer was an absolute doozy.
We were eagerly awaiting this release in the cinema but as revealed a few weeks ago, we won’t have to leave the couch to see it.
Despite the fact that it stars Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, THR reports that David Ellison, the head of Skydance Productions, was worried that the film was “too intellectual” and “too complicated” for audiences.
Rather than release the film in theatres, the film studio struck a deal with Netflix to effectively bypass cinemas altogether outside the US, Canada, and China. After the movie makes its theatrical debut in those countries on February 23, Annihilation will land on Netflix 17 days later in countries like the UK and Ireland.
It appears that the sci-fi horror is staking an early claim to be one of the year’s best films.
We’re really excited to see this one.
Alex Garland's #Annihilation is absolutely phenomenal. It's gorgeous and mesmerizing, with brilliant performances from the entire ensemble. It's a remarkable vision, and has a sequence so thrilling that I was left literally dizzy. It will be on my Top 10 of 2018 without question. pic.twitter.com/zGmDGlyh0M
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) February 8, 2018
Just saw #Annihilation, and damn, it’s gorgeous. Beautifully done, riveting and smart. Going to need to process this one for a while, and I want to see it again! pic.twitter.com/rFl5cnacon
— Jenna Busch-Henderson (@JennaBusch) February 8, 2018
Alex Garland’s #Annihilation is another example of the kind of brainy sci-fi we don’t see enough of. Badass female cast and a story that’s both beautiful and wickedly disturbing, and an ending you will talk about for days. Dug it so much pic.twitter.com/fW77z6xX4v
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) February 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/aliciamalone/status/961649577408397312
#Annihilation is big budget Alex Garland with all the head-spinning intelligence of "Ex Machina." It's violent and patient and then suddenly so transfixing you're pinned to your seat.
It'll take time to process. Another auteur studio gamble from Paramoint after "mother!"
— Zack Sharf (@ZSharf) February 8, 2018
