The new Netflix film Bird Box is based on the novel of the same name by Josh Malerman, which was released in 2014. To be clear, the movie is not inspired by this year’s sleeper hit A Quiet Place, yet it’s impossible not to make the comparison. Bird Box can best be described as “A Quiet Place with sight,” as it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where survival depends on avoiding eye contact with supernatural creatures. If someone manages to look at whatever these things are, they immediately become suicidal and kill themselves in horribly violent ways.
Sandra Bullock leads the cast here, joined by a talented roster of familiar faces like John Malkovich, B.D. Wong, and Sarah Paulson. Bullock’s character, Malorie, is on an apparent mission to escort two small children to a supposed sanctuary. When outdoors, they all must wear blindfolds, otherwise they risk going irreversibly insane. Traveling and scavenging for supplies means the survivors have to be very creative, which includes attaching bells to the children as a safety device should they become separated from Malorie.
The narrative in Bird Box takes place over two separate time periods. Malorie’s journey to the sanctuary makes for some very tense moments, as the travelers are constantly surrounded by danger. These scenes do make great use of the story’s intriguing concept. The unseen creatures do present viewers an interesting new kind of evil, and it’s hard not to sympathize with Malorie when wondering how we might fare in a similar situation. Survival means sometimes separating herself from the kids, even if temporarily, and these make for the most suspenseful moments in the film.
Meanwhile, flashback scenes shown intermittently reveal the start of “The Problem.” When the chaos plagues her city, Malorie takes shelter with a group of strangers. Aware of what’s happening, the survivors block the doors and windows to ensure nobody can see whatever it is that’s outside. In contrast to the movie’s otherwise unique premise, this is where Bird Box feels much more familiar. When the group enters into a heated argument about whether to let in a new survivor who’s shown up at the door, it started to feel like just another episode of The Walking Dead.
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Be that as it may, the story still works, as the actors are talented enough to keep it interesting. What didn’t work quite as much was the introduction of the marauders who seem unaffected by the sinister presence outside. The idea is that some people are so insane that the sight doesn’t affect them, and this event has given them a “hall pass” to unleash their brutality on those who can’t look. Again, this felt like much more familiar territory, and something that we’ve seen in every post-apocalyptic story in recent years. It just seemed that the raiders weren’t necessary. Bird Box should have been more confident in its primary antagonist, as the idea of this evil force so powerful you can’t even look at it is scary enough as it is.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories and have two hours of your life to spare, Bird Box is worth a watch. It doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but there are still many things to appreciate about the film, even if some of it seems a bit familiar.
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