'Annihilation' Trailer: The Laws Of Nature Are Turned Upside Down

Whenever a movie comes out that is based on a book, it invites (or necessitates) comparison to its source material. That is, did the transfer in medium result in some falling off? In some ways, the person best-equipped to answer that very question is the author of the book, itself. And so, it’s probably pretty damn significant that Jeff VanderMeer, the author of the 2014 novel “Annihilation,” says this about the upcoming movie of the same name: “I can tell you it’s mind-blowing, surreal, extremely beautiful, extremely horrific, and it was so tense that our bodies felt sore and beat-up afterwards.” That sounds like high praise to me.

The film, written and directed by Alex Garland (“Ex Machina”) promises to be a mix of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and horror. Natalie Portman stars in the movie as Lena, a biologist who is sent to explore the aftermath of what could be an extraterrestrial event. Portman is joined by Jennifer Jason LeighGina RodriguezTessa Thompson, and “Ex Machina” alum, Oscar Isaac. Here is the official synopsis:

A biologist searches for her missing husband while on an expedition with a secret agency and discovers a dangerous creature lurking in the wilderness.

Annihilation” hits theaters in the U.S., Canada, and China on February 23, 2018 with the rest of the world getting the movie on Netflix a couple weeks later.