Bird Box, the Netflix original released on mid-December 2018, became instantly famous talked about on the internet. The movie spurred some controversies between the viewers who enjoyed it and the ones who strongly disliked it. With so much dispute I decided to put Bird Box to the test, how good is it really?

The movie follows the story of Malorie after a strange force that causes people to hallucinate and kill themselves is spread around the World. The survivors then have to discover a way to continue living and search for solutions while having to wear blindfolds outside.

After watching the motion picture I can honestly say that the plot was remarkably creative and entertaining. It does share similarities to numerous horror films, but the story takes a different direction that is a refreshing change without leaving the spectators’ comfort zone.

Starting with the casting, the movie’s stronger suit in most opinions. On one hand, it did combine outstandingly talented celebrities admired by both the older and younger generation, addressing a larger platform and influencing more people.

However, in my personal opinion, the movie splurged too much on that sector of the production. The more famous the actors, the more they are payed, and simply casting Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Trevante Rhodes, and Machine Gun Kelly must have been extraordinarily expensive, but these are only a handful of the streamed celebrities. Birdbox could have still managed to receive a similar audience by casting only a few extremely well known celebrities, and given the stage to other new actors.

The imagery although sometimes dark worked well with the plot and were suitable to the happenings. The woods scenes were realistic and dark, adding to the danger of the part. And clips at the house were ordinary but with a side of chaotic which also connected to the meaning of the scenes.

I do understand the advocate point of view, the dialogue was very well written thanks to an amazing writer. However, the opposing perspective is much stronger with several unresolved plot holes and unconvincing scenarios that frustrates observers.  

Subplots, such as the pregnancies, were not at all realistic, not that I am saying an epidemic that makes people kill themselves is realistic. But a film should make human behavior and sequence of events as convincing as possible in an individual situation, and if the epidemic were to happen, the only two pregnant woman in the room would not give birth at very same moment. Bird Box could have still preserved the sequence of events if the birth were merely hours apart by simply causing a small distraction, giving Gary his needed time frame.

Speaking of Gary and unresolved subplots, Bird Box never explicitly explained the drawings he spread around the table and what they are supposed to mean. Needless to say, there is no need to add a scene completely surrounding the use of a prop when it does not show how it relates to the movie.

Now, the resolution of the motion picture is what single handedly brings down the greatness of every other aspect of the production. A good movie needs a satisfying ending, it may be cheerful, emotional, tragic, bittersweet or even ironic but the ending should provide a reasonable and pleasing closing to the matter.

Although I think it was fitting for the scenario that not everyone survived, people would betray each other, sacrifice themselves, and make mistakes. However, what I dislike if that the director of Bird Box never bothered to explain the events in any way. What exactly was the epidemic? How did it occur? Why did it happen? Why were some people able to see? Why do birds seem to sense the presence of the evil nature? How exactly did the doctor just so happen to be in the same place as Malorie? These are all essential questions for the conclusion of the movie that were not at all answered.

Overall, I think Bird Box turned out to be an average movie, but definitely overrated. It had potential to be an great movie, all of the tools were right there, a creative idea with a deeper meaning, amazing actors, a large budget, a incredible writer, and basically Netflix behind their backs. Still, the movie managed to include such a range of unreal scenarios and plot holes without any clear resolution, that the movie lacked closure and the quality that makes a movie truly memorable and award worthy. Certainly, there were pleasing parts to the movie, but its flaws snowballed into a movie that does not deserve the amount of recognition it is receiving.