An exclusive film on Netflix in the UK, Annihilation is the latest in a line of titles technically classified as Netflix ‘Originals’ to be removed from the streamer, following shows such as The Alienist and horror movie His House.
Written and directed by Alex Garland, the sci-fi horror film – loosely based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel of the same name – stars Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez.
Portman plays biologist and former soldier Lena, who heads with fellow scientists into The Shimmer, a mysterious quarantined zone of mutating plants and animals that appears to be a portal to another dimension.
She embarks on the mission after her husband Kane (Isaac) is the only one to return from an exploratory expedition to the area, which is gradually expanding three years after a meteor landed on a lighthouse in the St Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, sparking its creation.
Kane is changed by his trip and cannot explain either where he was or how he came back, with his condition rapidly deteriorating.
Annihilation, released theatrically in the US, Canada and China by Paramount, was instead distributed internationally by Netflix in 17 other territories, releasing onto the streamer on March 12, 2018.
Exactly seven years later to the day, it will leave the platform in the UK, suggesting the end of the rights deal with Paramount.
The film – known for its creepy scenes including a terrifying human-bear hybrid mutant attack, as well as the writhing, living intestines found inside a corpse – achieved an impressive 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, from over 300 professional critics.
Reviews praised it as ‘science fiction at its best’, ‘masterfully mind-bending’ and ‘a sci-fi gem that is destined to become a modern-day classic’.
‘An exciting, imperfect genre success,’ commented Simran Hans in The Observer’s review, while Trace Thurman for Horror Queers Podcast said: ‘Alex Garland’s trippy little cosmic horror film manages to awe, horrify and perplex all at the same time. A modern classic.’
‘Drawing on mythology and body horror, Annihilation is an intelligent film that asks big questions and refuses to provide easy answers. Sci-fi at its best,’ agreed Jonathan Pile for Empire in a five-star review.
Another five-star reaction came from Tim Robey of The Telegraph, who praised the movie as ‘exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure’, while commenting that it was one of Portman’s ‘best performances’.
‘It’s an experience to plunge into, loud and large: Netflix and chilling will never have quite the same meaning again,’ he added.
Fans also agreed, with Chai S saying they had ‘absolutely devoured this movie’, while Artsy K posted: ‘A one-of-a-kind film that is a must-see for anyone fond of H.P. Lovecraft-ian horror pieces.’
Annihilation leaves Netflix in the UK on March 12, 2025.
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