This movie is a delectable ‘90s action thriller that is criminally overlooked compared to its peers. It has solid action and great tension, everything an action movie needs. The ensemble cast has great chemistry and some of the surprises are downright outstanding.
Closest comparison: It’s like The Rock by way of Air Force One.
Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Thriller
What is there to say about Jurassic Park? It’s a timeless classic. Almost all of the special effects are practical and flawless, and the few CGI shots hold up surprisingly well. The tone impeccably rides the line between pop horror and family adventure with aplomb. The plot, dialog, delivery, and cinematography are each so masterfully crafted that almost every scene is culturally iconic.
Closest comparison: It’s like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by way of The Lost World (1960).
Setting: Exploration
Plot: Horror
Tone: Adventure
This movie has a much better premise than it’s ultimately able to deliver on. There are several odd idiosyncrasies with the plot that that amount to a general murmur of “fine, I guess” from the audience. Asa Butterfield is the best part of the movie, as his indomitable cheerfulness outshines even the legendary Gary Oldman. It’s a fun ‘80s style teen movie, but without the cult following.
Closest comparison: It’s like The Martian by way of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Setting: Astronaut
Plot: Sci-Fi Romance
Tone: Adventure Drama
This movie is very intense and nerve-wracking, constantly reminding the audience of the peril the protagonists are in. The story is told in a brilliant way that simultaneously gives a sense of security for some characters and tension for others. I was afraid it was just going to be a rip-off of A Quiet Place, but it blazes its own path, having about as much in common with Dawn of the Dead as anything else. Outstanding performances all around and superb use of editing so the audience feels everything it does’t get to see on screen. But where A Quite Place has heart and love, Bird Box has harrowing tension, leaving the audience more exhausted than its plot and message warrant.
Editor’s Note: After rematching the film and doing some research, I found that many of the elements that seemed enigmatic and clever turned out to be simply occult symbolism with which I was unfamiliar. It’s still pretty well-made but this undercuts its impact significantly, as even moments of important character growth are neglected in favor of including occult ritual analogy.
Closest Comparison: It’s like a cross between A Quiet Place and The Happening.
Setting: Apocalyptic
Plot: Horror
Tone: Horror/Thriller
