Annihilation (2018)

The husband (Oscar Isaac) of a cellular biologist (Natalie Portman) returns home after after being presumed missing for a year. His behavior is strange and when he starts bleeding from the mouth, before they can reach the hospital they are abducted by a secret government organization. It is there that she learns what happened to her husband and about "The Shimmer". Based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer and directed by Alex Garland (EX MACHINA). I've not read the source material which I hear in its literary form is allegedly unfilmable. But I'm glad I'm unfamiliar with VanderMeer's book because I can assess the film on its own merits. This is easily the most stimulating piece of sci-fi since ARRIVAL. It's intelligent and articulate and doesn't dumb down to an audience expecting a conventional sci-fi actioner. It doesn't attempt to give us answers or solutions and when it's over, we're likely to repeat the heroine's frequent "I don't know." But with its female centered protagonists (Isaac has the only male role of note) and audacious visuals (it's got the best light show since 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY), it's a refreshing change of pace from the usual multiplex lowest common denominator. Paramount thought the film was too intellectual and when Garland refused to alter it, they sold overseas rights to Netflix! With Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez (JANE THE VIRGIN), Tessa Thompson and Tuva Novotny.