It’s early in 2018, but I think I’ve seen what will be one of my favorite films of the year: writer-directorAlex Garland’sAnnihilation. Based onJeff VanderMeer’s terrifying eco-horror novel of the same name, the movie starsNatalie Portmanas a biologist and former soldier who joins a mission to uncover what exactly happened to her husband (Oscar Isaac) inside Area X, which is a mysterious—and growing—patch of land in the United States that seems to fundamentally alter everything in its path. Garland’s film also starsJennifer Jason Leigh,Tessa Thompson,Gina Rodriguez, andTuva Novotny.
Unlike a lot of movies where everything is explained and watered down by studio notes and focus groups,Annihilationis a hard sci-fi thriller where you’re constantly trying to figure out what is happening, and I loved every second of it. In addition, the film contains a lot of weird and bold choices that will no doubt engender divisive reactions, but that’s a tell-tale sign of a unique movie-going experience. It’s the type of film that rarely gets made and Paramount Pictures deserves major commendations for releasing it in the first place.
WithAnnihilationnow in theaters in North America, I recently sat down with Garland and Isaac for a lively and funny conversation. What you need to know about this interview is a few minutes before it started I had sat down with Garland for an extended interview (which you’re able to watch here) where we really got into the making of the film. So when I sat down to do this interview, I made a joke aboutStar Warsand Garland told me he wanted the interview to be nothing but me asking Isaac aboutThe Last Jedi. Which is what led me to my first question. Since I got the vibe that Garland just wanted to have some fun, I decided to follow up myStar Warsquestion with the most important thing I could possibly ask: did they knowthe dancing sequenceinEx-Machinawas going to bethe gif to end all gifs? Of course I also asked aboutAnnihilation, but if you really want to hear about the making of the film you should watch the aforementioned Garland interview.
Check out what they to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about and some images from the film.
Alex Garland and Oscar Isaac:
For more onAnnihilation:
