‘Bird Box’ is one of those Netflix films that the streaming giant is particularly proud of as the film is already being considered an awards contender, which is part of why you will be able to find the film in a most-likely limited theatrical run later this year. And based on the first 5 minutes which you can check out below, one does get the sense that the film, directed by Susanne Bier, knows what it is doing.
The premise seems to be that humanity has been knocked down and left in a post-apocalyptic state due to some monster that, if you see it, makes you see your very worst fears come to life, and drives you to commit suicide. We only learn this later on in the clip, which at first starts with Sandra Bullock ordering her children to follow her every command and report anything they hear as they journey through the woods and over the water, all while the entire family is blindfolded. We then see her make her way to a small boat near their house, following ropes and strings left by someone as everyone is blindfolded, all ears perked for the slightest sign of danger. The clip then flashes back 5 years to when Bullock’s character Malorie was pregnant with the kids, on what appears to be the day that the monster (or monsters) first started appearing to humanity, as Malorie witnesses a number of people going crazy and committing suicide, the last of which is her sister, who at first is trying to drive Malorie to safety, but after she spots something on the road, she ends up driving their car into another car at full speed.
The whole clip has just the right feel of creepy, terrifying, and tense, and, of course, Bullock’s performance helps carry the weight of the whole thing, at least in the five minutes we have seen so far. I have heard there are some mixed reviews out there as some critics feel the film might be a bit too “derivative,” but so far the premise feels fresh and original. I know I would not mind watching the rest of the movie just to see where they are going with everything.
Make sure to check out the first five minutes for yourself (below) and share your thoughts on ‘Bird Box’ in the comments!
When a mysterious force decimates the population, only one thing is certain — if you see it, you die. The survivors must now avoid coming face to face with an entity that takes the form of their worst fears. Searching for hope and a new beginning, a woman and her children embark on a dangerous journey through the woods and down a river to find the one place that may offer sanctuary. To make it, they’ll have to cover their eyes from the evil that chases them — and complete the trip blindfolded.