Annihilation - S15 E121

We’re entering the Shimmer for the penultimate episode of the season! Or as Dan insists on calling it, (much to Sarah’s annoyance) the “penny”. Join us as we discuss Alex Garland’s 2018 sci-fi weirdness, Annihilation.

As the 7^th entry in our Liminal Spaces season, Sarah explains why this dreamlike and ethereal landscape is the ultimate subversion of the genre, moving away from empty car parks and into a hauntingly beautiful, mutating wilderness. We dive deep into why this stands as one of the most essential contemporary sci-fi movies, blending high-concept cinema with skin-crawling body horror.

Sarah dons her “feminist wig”, (a hat so big it would make David Lynch proud) to discuss how Garland crafts some of the most complex, non-sexualised roles for women in modern film. We analyse the powerhouse cast, including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez and debate why Garland’s writing is what other directors only pretend to achieve.

From the horror of the screaming skull bear to the philosophical questions of human nature, we explore how this book adaptation deviates from Jeff VanderMeer’s novel to focus on the terrifyingly relatable theme of self-destruction. It’s a weird movie that demands your full attention, so put down your second screen and get ready for a refraction of our usual hopeless pedantry.

What to expect from this episode:

• Dan explains his logic behind calling this the “penny” episode just to wind Sarah up.
• Discussions around our favourite Alex Garland films including one we covered (Ex Machina)
• We explore why Alex Garland is one of Sarah’s favourite filmmakers for writing meaty, complex roles for women.
• A look at the “inverse Nolan” trope and how Oscar Isaac serves as the story’s catalyst.
• We break down the ethereal visuals of the Hox gene and those haunting human-plant hybrids.
• A retrospective on the bear sequence and why it’s a masterclass in cosmic horror.
• We discuss the self-destructive motivations of every member of the expedition.
• Parallels between the plot and the real-life story of Henrietta Lacks.
• We debate the dreamlike ending and whether assimilation is the same thing as annihilation.

This season has eight episodes, concluding July 6th

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