Film Review: "Bird Box" (2018).

"Never Lose Sight of Survival" in Bird Box. This post-apocalyptic thriller film directed by Susanne Bier, adapted by Eric Heisserer, and based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman. In the wake of an unknown global terror, a mother must find the strength to flee with her children down a treacherous river in search of safety. Due to unseen deadly forces, the perilous journey must be made blindly.

In 2013, the film rights to Malerman's novel were optioned by Universal Pictures prior to its publication. Andy Muschietti and Heisserer were hired to direct and pen the script. In July 2017, it was announced that Netflix had acquired the rights and would develop the film, with Bier and Sandra Bullock were attached to direct and star. The film marked Bullock's first horror film since The Vanishing (1993). Bullock dislikes horror movies, and has been very reluctant to appear in one. When offered the film, both Bullock and Bier originally passed on it. By mid September 2017, Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar, Tom Hollander, BD Wong, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Parminder Nagra, Amy Gumenick, and Happy Anderson were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in late November. Filming took place throughout California. According to Bullock, she said she was blindfolded for about fifty percent of the shooting schedule. The production used live birds during filming as much as possible, replacing them digitally for sequences when they became "agitated". The film uses footage of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster. The stock footage was purchased from a vendor and Netflix stated it would stay in the movie even after a request to remove it from survivors of the disaster. Netflix later removed the footage and replaced with an outtake from a canceled U.S. TV series. The same footage was also used in another Netflix production, Travelers, but has since been removed. Industrial Light & Magic provided the film's visual effects, under the supervision of visual effects supervisor Marcus Taormina.

The film stars Bullock, Rhodes, Weaver, Malkovich, Paulson, Salazar, Hollander, Wong, Vince, Nagra, Gumenick, and Anderson. The cast goes close to carrying the whole thing over the line, but it never feels as taut or kinetic as it needs to be. Bullock and the rest of the cast do their best to keep the tension high, but the film ultimately doesn't end up being much more than a garden-variety creature feature.

Whether you're a horror fan who enjoys jump scares, gore, monsters, or a sharp social commentary, Netflix movie Bird Box will satisfy none. The film doesn't manage to captivate its audience like it should, and it certainly doesn't bring anything new to its genre. Ultimately, the greatest thing it achieves is that it makes the viewer appreciate A Quiet Place even more. Not a knockoff of that other quiet horror flick, though this familiar monster movie works hard to convince otherwise. But the terrific cast makes it worth a look, at least for Netflix subscribers.

Simon says Bird Box receives:

Also, see my review for Serena.