Bird Box
by Susanne Bier

Netflix doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to their original films. The different series they’ve released over the last few years have been fantastic, but the films… let’s just say there are way more misses than hits. I’ve even planned to review a few this past year, but after watching, just deleted them from my list because they were so lackluster I couldn’t be bothered to write about them. I think that often times it’s worse to be mediocre than terrible, at least something awful leaves an impression. I can wholeheartedly say that Bird Box is the best Netflix Original Film ever to be released.

Let me start by saying that I have not read the book, so I may be biased here in my favorable opinion of the film. Apparently, some fans of the book are not pleased with the film adaptation. That said, whatever, this is a movie review, not a book one, so I’ll continue.

Sandra Bullock is in the lead as a woman with an unwanted pregnancy. Society collapses suddenly around her when people begin violently killing themselves after laying eyes upon a mysterious presence. She ends up in the ‘burbs with a ragtag group of characters who tick all the stereotypical archetype boxes as they fortify the house and await help. We all know how these stories go, though, and help isn’t coming, so the survivors must figure out a way to survive in a world without using one of their major senses: sight.

While the film follows a careful formula and reminded me of A Quiet Place in a way, it still stands out despite the tropes and constant flashbacks/flashforwards.

I enjoyed the high tension sprinkled throughout the film, especially during any fight or flight sequences. I also thought the display of detachment between woman and child was refreshing. Not every woman has maternal instincts, nor does she want to have them. The multiple threats in the film aside from the mysterious entity was also a nice addition, I won’t bring up what those threats are though as I don’t want to spoil anything major.

My only qualm with this film was the end, it was a bit too storybook fairytale for me, not to mention predictable. Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I definitely think this is what 2008’s The Happening should have been.

Bird Box is obviously on Netflix, so if you haven’t already, add it to your watch list and give it a view!

(This review was originally published on Horror Metal Sounds)