Understanding Annihilation: Unraveling Mysteries and Answering Key Questions

The movie Annihilation, directed by Alex Garland in 2018, delves into complex themes that left viewers with lingering questions even after the credits rolled. Following a group of investigators venturing into a mysterious quarantined area known as The Shimmer, the film centers around biologist and former soldier Lena (played by Natalie Portman) as she seeks to unravel secrets that could potentially save her husband, Kane (portrayed by Oscar Isaac). Although inspired by The Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation takes a different approach from the original book.

Receiving a positive response, Annihilation boasts an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics, such as Brian Tallerico from Roger Ebert, commended the movie for its stunning cinematography and immersive sound design. The film's strategic use of confusion and tension to propel the storyline was also well-received. However, while these elements contributed to creating a compelling sci-fi experience, they also left audiences with unanswered questions. Despite some explanations provided about The Shimmer throughout the movie, the ending remained ambiguous, leaving many intricate details open to interpretation and further exploration.

What The Shimmer Does & Its Purpose

The Shimmer Is A Force Of Renewal And Creation

Heading into the woods in Annihilation. - The Shimmer Is A Force Of Renewal And Creation - What The Shimmer Does & Its Purpose

Lena discovers that it actually creates something new by breaking down something old

In the movie Annihilation, Lena and her team are on a mission to uncover the mystery of The Shimmer. They soon learn that The Shimmer is an alien force that alters DNA, creating new life forms through mutation and combination. Initially thought to be destructive, Lena realizes that it actually brings about new beginnings by breaking down the old.

In addition to its main function, The Shimmer in Annihilation causes temporary memory loss for those inside, as seen when Lena and her team forget their first six days within its boundaries. Furthermore, The Shimmer distorts all radio signals, making communication via electronic devices impossible.

What Was That Mutant Bear Monster?!

Annihilation's Most Terrifying Creature Was Pure Nightmare Fuel

The mutant bear looks straight at the camera in Annihilation. - Annihilation's Most Terrifying Creature Was Pure Nightmare Fuel - What Was That Mutant Bear Monster?!

The bear possesses the ability to mimic human screams, a trick used to lure in its prey

The investigative group encounters two main monsters inside The Shimmer — a crocodile with shark teeth and Annihilation's terrifying mutant bear. The bear is more horrifying and memorable due to the number of people it kills. Because of its mutations, the bear loses patches of skin on its face, showing its skull. The bear also has a human skull layered on the inside of its skull. From the front, the bear monster shows its normal sharp teeth with a layer of human teeth as well.

In addition to its disturbing appearance, the bear possesses the ability to mimic human screams, a trick used to lure in its prey. This may be due to human vocal cords fused with the bear’s body. The explanation is supported by the fact that the bear ripped out the throats of its victims as depicted in Annihilation through dialogue between Lena and her team.

Did Jose Turn Into A Plant? What Happened To Her

Tess Thompson's Character Embrace The Effect Of The Shimmer

Josie looks at the human flower plants in Annihilation. - Tess Thompson's Character Embrace The Effect Of The Shimmer - Did Jose Turn Into A Plant? What Happened To Her

By the time Lena follows her into the clearing, the only thing left of Josie is a human-shaped plant

Josie, played by Tess Thompson in Annihilation, is a quiet astrophysicist who joins the journey into The Shimmer. She grapples with thoughts of suicide and severe self-harm before embarking on this adventure. As they encounter strange creatures, Josie begins to understand that The Shimmer will also transform her. However, unlike her companions, Josie embraces the idea of change in The Shimmer and finds peace in her destiny. She expresses to Lena:

“Ventress is ready to confront it. You are prepared to battle it. But, I don’t feel the need for either of those actions.”

In Annihilation, the fate of Josie was explained through a line of dialogue. As she walks away, vines start growing from her skin, expanding with each step. When Lena catches up to her in the clearing, all that remains of Josie is a plant in the shape of a human.

Towards the conclusion of Annihilation, the lighthouse is engulfed in flames, causing mutated objects in The Shimmer to be affected. The fire begins with the crystalline trees and spreads throughout The Shimmer. Since Josie has transformed into a plant, it is likely that she also burns down like everything else. This uncertainty is why Lena admits to the interrogator that she doesn't know what ultimately happened to Josie in The Shimmer.

What Was The Cavern In The Lighthouse?

The Cavern Under The Lighthouse Is The Epicenter Of The Shimmer's Effects

Lena holds a military weapon while looking through the entrance to a cavern. - The Cavern Under The Lighthouse Is The Epicenter Of The Shimmer's Effects - What Was The Cavern In The Lighthouse?

Within the cavern, The Shimmer dissolves beings and creates new refractions of whatever’s DNA is in the space, including humans

When The Shimmer crash-landed on Earth, it smashed through the lighthouse wall and into the ground, creating a cavern underneath. This cavern in Annihilation is where The Shimmer's effects are the strongest, spreading out with diminishing intensity the further away from it.

In the movie, as characters approach the cavern, they start to feel like their bodies are falling apart. Little do they know, they are actually deteriorating. Within the cavern, The Shimmer breaks down living beings and recreates them with a mix of their DNA. This is how duplicates of Kane and Lena are seen in the lighthouse, with Lena's duplicate formed from a blend of Ventress' DNA and a drop of her blood. The origin of Kane's duplicate remains a mystery.

What Happened To Annihilation's Real Kane?

Kane Chose A Quick Death

Isaac Annihilation - Kane Chose A Quick Death - What Happened To Annihilation's Real Kane?

Oscar Isaac's character in Annihilation took action to die in a quicker, less painful way

At the end of Annihilation, Lena finds a videotape in the lighthouse that shows what happened to Kane. The real Kane set off a phosphorous grenade inside the lighthouse, causing his body to burn up and end his life. It seems like he did this because he realized that The Shimmer was slowly killing him.

Lena's refraction probably formed because Kane witnessed one of his fellow soldiers disintegrate. Knowing he didn't have much time left, Oscar Isaac's character in Annihilation decided to take action and die quickly and with less pain.

Why Lena's Eyes Shimmer At The End Of Annihilation (Is It Really Her?)

Lena Wasn't Replaced, But She Was Permanently Altered

Lena looks over a shoulder with shimmering eyes in Annihilation. - Lena Wasn't Replaced, But She Was Permanently Altered - Why Lena's Eyes Shimmer At The End Of Annihilation (Is It Really Her?)

It’s basically impossible that Lena got out of The Shimmer untouched by its DNA-altering effects

When Refraction Kane and real Lena hug at the end of Annihilation, his eyes shimmer since he’s a product of The Shimmer. He only existed because the real Kane went into the cavern. This raises the question of why Lena’s eyes shimmer as well. As seen in the movie, Refraction Lena burned up in The Shimmer while the real Lena ran away.

This question has a relatively simple answer. This was another element that Annihilation explained rather (and deliberately) ambiguously, but Lena’s eyes shimmer at the end because her time within The Shimmer permanently changed her DNA. Though Lena retained her consciousness and her human traits, she interacted with many people and creatures that fused with her during her investigative trip. It’s basically impossible that Lena got out of The Shimmer untouched by its DNA-altering effects.

The Real Meaning Of Annihilation's Ouroboros Tattoo

The Symbol Represents Change

Lena sits in a chair with an ouroboros tattoo on her left arm in Annihilation. - The Symbol Represents Change - The Real Meaning Of Annihilation's Ouroboros Tattoo

In the movie Annihilation, the infinity ouroboros tattoo is initially spotted on the arm of Anya, the paramedic of the investigative team. As they venture into The Shimmer, the mysterious tattoo is then seen on a dismembered arm at an abandoned military base. Subsequently, Lena notices what appears to be a bruise forming on her own arm, which eventually transforms into the infinity ouroboros tattoo.

In Annihilation, there is a tattoo that symbolizes change. This tattoo physically moves from one person's arm to another within The Shimmer. Just like how the characters undergo emotional transformations within The Shimmer, their DNA and minds also alter as a result of their experiences.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an in-depth analysis of the complex and enigmatic themes explored in the 2018 science fiction film "Annihilation." It delves into the mysterious nature of The Shimmer, the alien force that alters DNA and creates new life forms, and examines the transformative experiences of the characters within its boundaries. The article effectively highlights the film's stunning cinematography, immersive sound design, and strategic use of confusion and tension to create a compelling and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

However, the article also acknowledges the unanswered questions and ambiguous ending that have left audiences grappling with interpretations. The film's exploration of themes such as identity, transformation, and the boundaries of the human condition raises profound questions that invite further contemplation and discussion. The article successfully captures the essence of the film's enigmatic nature, leaving readers with a lingering desire to explore the depths of its mysteries and engage in deeper analysis of its symbolism and implications.