Bird Box Review, Suspenseful but Not Much Else

I went into Bird Box after learning about it via memes on Facebook. In truth, prior to watching it earlier today, I had not logged into my Netflix account in a good month or so. Some of the memes are quite funny and maybe that artificial inflated expectation took me out of the mood that Bird Box was attempting to exude. Then again, maybe, just maybe, Bird Box has suspense by the neck, they just forgot a few other key points to making a great movie.

What the studio behind Bird Box has done is work the dual storyline angle for as long as they possibly could. One series is the more recent events, the other is the past - what caused Sandra Bullocks character, and the two children, to end up where they are in the other. It is a normal story telling design choice that is used by many movies to give viewers necessary information as it is needed. How it is done in Bird Box is just a little off putting to me for some reason - for one, it contains a lot of spoilers if you pay attention at all.

Without ruining Bird Box for those that will not watch it, but will scream “spoilers” in the comments at every opportunity, I am going to discuss the “earlier” scenes exclusively here in my review. Mainly because to discuss the “later” scenes would make this a rather short review as it effectively has little depth. This is my biggest problem with Bird Box, it just kind of ends like I Am Legend or The Happening both did.

In fact, you would not be all that wrong to offer a mashup of those two movies as your “Cliff’s Notes” version of the movie to give potential new viewers an idea of what to expect.

I am not saying Bird Box is as bad as The Happening, nor am I saying it is as good as, for what that is worth, I Am Legend. Bird Box walks that yellow line down the middle without missing a beat.

Okay, back to the “earlier” scenes. We are introduced to Malorie (Sandra Bullock) who is getting visited by her older sister, Jess. Malorie lives in a spacious home alone where she paints. Jess is picking up Malorie for a routine pregnancy check up and is surprised that her younger sister has not heard about the chaos going on in Europe. Malorie is not interested and turns off the news cast, just in time to miss a key plot point, and says it is “over there” so she doesn’t care (though the television shows breakouts occurring in Alaska at that precise moment).

At the hospital, we meet Malories doctor and get some smart ass commentary between Jess and Malorie over the baby. As they are leaving, another person at the hospital starts exhibiting symptoms of the stuff that was going on “over there” which is now right in Malorie’s lap so she kind of has to deal with it.

Jess is driving, trying to get the two away from the scene, while giving Malorie some tips on what to do if things get worse - such as get on horse instead of attempting to travel via car. These life tips are cut short when Jess starts displaying the symptoms and wrecks the car leaving Malorie to fend for herself.

Malorie ends up finding her way towards a home that has a kind hearted woman that won’t leave a pregnant woman to the series of events, regardless of what her husband says. Unfortunately, this leads to the death of this woman who is inflicted by whatever is going on and decides to go sit in a car that is on fire right before it explodes.

These early events show that whatever is going on, the underlying survival instincts of the human body or over ruled. The woman getting into a burning car, the way Jess ends her life (probably the most graphic event in the movie so be prepared for that), to the first woman that Malorie and Jess see first hand killing herself. The picture is painted quite well - something is not right here and it is different for everyone that experiences it.

Malorie finds her way to the home where many people are already. Two of the men in the home already are the home owner and his neighbor that is suing him so you can imagine the entertainment level between these two. Don’t worry, others will join the fun soon enough.

Eventually we find out, via a grocery stock man of all people, that this event is a “cleansing of the Earth” by other worldly beings. Charlie, goes into detail on many cultures and what they called the creatures with them all ending the same - with fewer people on the Earth. He feels that is what they are currently involved with - a culling of people.

Considering you have to look at these things to be effected, the current survivors are quite keen on keeping the windows blocked. Unfortunately for them, food is running out and they are slowly adding more people to their group.

Lucky for the growing group Charlie is able to guide them to the supermarket he worked at. This is important for those paying attention because we find out a major plot point at that store.

I cannot do to much more discussion without ruining the movie so, let’s discuss my problems with it.

First, the pacing in Bird Box is quite good. I have to give it that. Other than the initial scenes setting up Bullocks’ character as an introvert, the movie moves at a steady pace. A slow pace but steady.

The biggest problem I have with this Netflix original is that it is its own worst enemy. Seriously, literally the opening scene spoils the destiny of over 9/10’s of the characters in the movie before they even get a second of screen time.

The suspense level is just right though, I applaud the studio for that. They kept the tenseness level above average even in scenes where it is not apparent, you still have it in the back of your mind.

Unfortunately, Bird Box would have been a lot better off if they had dropped the dual story line angle and gone with sequential scenes kept together rather than jumping forward and back. They ruin their own story and ruin a great opportunity for more stress and suspense. Missed opportunity there, folks.

Look, if you want something in line with I Am Legend or The Happening, almost to a “T”, then check out Bird Box. The overall acting quality is very good and it is a take on the end of the world trope that is uniquely handled. That is hard to do at this point.

Want to own Bird Box? Hit ebay for a copy.

If you are a purist, check eBay for a copy of the Bird Box book. or get Bird Box on Amazon.