Title – Bird Box (2018)
Director – Susanne Bier (After the Wedding)
Cast – Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Jacki Weaver, Tom Hollander, Machine Gun Kelly
Plot – In a dangerous dystopian landscape, Malorie (Bullock) and her two children must traverse their new world blindfolded as they search for a safe haven.
“This ain’t no virus or a chemical attack. It was real evil”
Review by Eddie on 09/01/2019
I’m not the first to say it and I won’t be the last, Netflix’s newest high profile release feels like a poor man’s A Quiet Place.
Tackling a similar high concept idea as John Krasinski’s break out thriller hit, with sight replacing sound this time around, Susanne Bier’s mid-budgeted feature fails to capture the heart or pulse pounding thrills that Krasinski found, as lead actress Sandra Bullock tries to survive an apocalyptic landscape without being able to see.
Based on Josh Malerman’s hit novel of the same name, Bird Box arrives in our lounge-rooms with enough pedigree behind it, with the likes of John Malkovich, Trevante Rhodes and Sarah Paulson joining Bullock and Brier, but this very much feels like a cheap and nasty attempt at the thriller/horror mashup that features far too many dumb character decisions and plot progressions to have a chance of entertaining.
Bullock does her best to elevate proceedings with Malorie allowing the actress a lot of movement as the lead in the film, a reluctant mother trying her best to find safety for herself and her two young children but everything around the actress is tired, forced and uninspired.
A director more famous for her foreign drama works like After the Wedding and hit TV show The Night Manager, Bird Box sees Bier out of her depth as she tries to unleash the full potential of this tale into a feature length form, but the Denmark based filmmaker feels out of place on this particular instance with no scenes in Bird Box feeling like the set piece the film desperately needed to enliven it.
At the two hour mark you’ll be thanking your lucky stars when the credits begin to roll, as 120 minutes in a world featuring stereotypical side characters, unbelievable occurrences (blind driving and boating) and an ending that will have you placing head into palms isn’t ideal as Bird Box with its non-scary big bad and lethargic happenings is the very definition of a non-thrilling thriller.
Final Say –
There might be a good film to be made out of Malerman’s novel but Netflix’s Bird Box isn’t it. A lame, plodding and energy free affair, this Quiet Place wannabe is a major flop despite its viral fame thanks to memes and Netflix’s clever marketing campaigns.
1 GPS out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Still in two minds about whether to see this or not… But great review!
Thanks Rose 🙂 Be sure to let me know what you think if you do catch the film.
E
Hey, I quite liked this. It was rather like what I would have preferred The Walking Dead to be, at least have a decent tension/fear of the threat and not turn the end of the world into some kind of soap opera bitchfest about being at odds with the neighbours, which was what the last few seasons of The Walking Dead has been.
I found a lot of tension was sadly gone with the way the film was structured.
You knew exactly who was going to die thanks to the time line.
I do feel in the minority but I just can’t help but feel this is a very poorly made attempt at a thriller.
E
Yes, great review, you make a reasoned argument, and I agree. And too many people are comparing it to A Quiet Place and saying, “But when sight instead of sound.” That comparison is not fair to A Quiet Place, which is definitely the better film.
Such a better film! Quiet had great characters and genuine tension this one was just so lame and filled with terrible plot holes and occurences.
E
Surprised you watched this. The fact that it became super, mega popular should’ve been a warning sign.
I actually watched it the night it came out mate so I had heard very little about it.
The premise sounded good but wow such bad execution.
E
Pingback: Birdbox – For the Birds – McRatings·
Why is this movie so popular then?!
I think the marketing mate and also the fact its on Netflix.
I feel like this has become the type of movie that people just watch because everyone talks about it.
E
I have tried to dodge this film. I’m a bit like yourself, I saw the concept and thought ‘hey, this just feels like a rip-off of A Quiet Place’ a film that I adore. Nevertheless, this is a great review and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks for the kind words Aiden and look forward to having you on board as a regular reader 🙂
I am still shocked so many people seem to be loving this film, I found it boring, tiresome and highly unbelievable. Making for a very meh viewing experience.
E
Pingback: Film Review – Fractured (2019) | Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)·