Extinction
by Ben Young

Extinction is a recent Netflix release in its (mostly lackluster) line of original films. Another review I did the week I originally wrote this review was also a Netflix original, so make sure and go check out that one. However, I’m not here to talk about Tau, I’m here to talk about what I thought of this new Michael Peña movie.

I might be a bit biased here since I have an unhealthy obsession with apocalyptic fiction, I love when sci-fi meets horror, and I have a weird thing for Michael Peña. While this film may stray a bit too close to the action/sci-fi side, science fiction and horror, while two entirely different things, are often lumped together into the speculative fiction category anyway. There are some definite horror elements here and I thought the twist, while a bit predictive, was the saving grace of the movie.

It’s not that Extinction isn’t a good movie, it’s just that it isn’t a great one. Tons of tropes are thrown into the story that we’ve all seen countless times before. It was almost as if a handful of ideas were thrown into a blender and some strange mixed drink came out. That being said, I didn’t dislike the movie at all. Perhaps the ending was a bit bland and anti-climactic, but I still enjoyed myself.

I can’t delve into the story for fear that I would spoil the twist, and like I said earlier, the twist is what really saves the film from shooting itself in the foot. What I can say about the plot is Peter, a middle-class man (Peña) in a futuristic world, is struggling with nightmares that he’s convinced are visions of an impending doom and becoming more and more aloof. His wife Alice (Lizzy Caplan) is frustrated by his restless, sleepless nights and how his strange behavior is affecting the lives of their two children Hannah and Lucy. Alice fears her husband is going mad, but it turns out Peter’s worst nightmares are about to come true when an alien invasion begins right in the middle of their dinner party.

Once the invasion happens, things begin to pick up steam. Up until that point the story felt bland and character interactions felt a bit off to me. I even asked my husband a few times while watching, “why is everyone so awkward? Why does this feel so unnatural to me?” Turns out, there’s a reason for it, but it has to do with the twist, so I’ll let your imagine take charge.

Aside from the unnatural feel of the character interactions and the cliché-ridden plot, I am glad I watched the film. The effects and cinematography are on point and as previously mentioned, I enjoy a good twist. Again, while I spotted it coming from miles away, it was nonetheless enjoyable. I can’t say that I have enjoyed many of Netflix’s original films, but I can say I didn’t mind this one.

With a runtime of only ninety-five minutes, you won’t find yourself feeling like you wasted any time by watching. I say give Extinction a shot!

(This review was originally published on Horror Metal Sounds.)