By Ava Franks
You’re going to want to take your blindfold off for this…
Netflix’s release of its original movie, “Bird Box” broke records as 33% of Netflix subscribers watched 70% of the movie the first week it came out. Throughout the movie, scenes jump back and forth between the present and the past. The opening scene shows our main protagonist, Malorie, explaining to her children the dangers of their upcoming journey “down the river”. Following a walky talky voiceover, performed by Pruitt Taylor Vince, and an erie pan of the murky river, director Susanne Bier immediately draws in her audience. We become invested in Malorie’s journey from the very beginning, as her voice conveys the sheer terror and fear she feels towards this dangerous endeavor.
An astounding performance by Sandra Bullock as Malorie makes an incredibly intriguing plot line all the more entertaining. Malorie is damaged and tarnished by the inexplicably terrifying reality she has come to know and survive through. In the midst of all this pain and fear Malorie must also act strong and unyielding in order to stay alive and protect her children. Sandra Bullock conveys these complicated and intricate emotions extremely believably her entire performance.
During the movie itself, viewers are constantly on the edge of their seats. The theme revolves around an end of the world situation. When looking outside, people are overcome with a dark force that drives them to immediate suicide. People who are still alive must wear a blindfold at all times when they aren’t hiding away indoors. They’re forced to cover any direct image of the outside world. What’s worse, there are people that work tirelessly to force others to take off their blindfolds, possessed by the evil force that has taken over the world. This idea that no one can be trusted adds an entire new level of suspense to the movie.
Despite all these successes, “Bird Box” did have some disappointments. One of these disappointments being the short lived role of Sarah Paulson as Malorie’s sister, Jessica. Some viewers were also confused with the multiple themes presented throughout the movie. “Bird Box” doesn’t fall into one specific genre of film. Malorie’s relationship with her children could lead the audience to believe the movie is really about the struggles of parenting, and how every parent experiences an inner conflict when it comes to teaching their children reality or preserving their innocence. On the other hand, the movie could also be viewed as a typical sci-fi story, but with so many different elements encapsulated in the theme, it’s hard to define it this way.
