"BIRD BOX"

Malorie and two children navigate a strong river current on a small raft. The three of them have their eyes covered with a blindfold, so it is somewhat difficult to keep the boat within the channel. We don't know for sure where they are headed. They only carry a couple of backpacks with belongings and food for the trip, as well as a small shoe box where they keep three birds in captivity. This box becomes a metaphor for the post-apocalyptic climate that the world is experiencing. Living in complete darkness and isolation, the survivors of a strange event that occurred five years ago have been stripped of all freedom.

Bird Box (A Ciegas) is the latest bet from the streaming giant Netflix. An original production based on the homonymous novel by Josh Malerman and starring Oscar winner Sandra Bullock. Danish Susanne Bier (In a Better World, After the Wedding) is in charge of directing this intense and effective apocalyptic thriller. With a non-linear structure, the film takes us back to the beginning of what would be the end of the world we know: some mysterious creatures have arrived on Earth in an inexplicable way. Visual contact with these beings causes humans to lose their minds and opt for suicide. 

Those who seek to survive must lock themselves in their houses and cover all the windows to avoid any approach with these creatures. 

After leaving a routine checkup with the doctor, Malorie (Sandra Bullock) finds chaos on the streets of the state of California. Seeing her pregnant condition, a couple of strangers invite her to take refuge in her house where they house a diverse group of survivors. The tension between the inhabitants of the house increases when food is scarce, so the group, led by Tom (Trevante Rhodes), must find a way to re-supply. Also, things will be further complicated by the mysterious arrival of Gary (Tom Hollander), a fugitive who swears he has seen people immune to the effects of the creatures that prowl through the air. Malorie will find a confidante in Olympia (Danielle Macdonald), another woman – also pregnant – who shares the same roof. 

Bird Box manages to generate moments of high tension and intensity, although sometimes it seems that we are seeing two or three different movies for the price of one. Despite having a diverse cast, Sandra Bullock is the one who commands this thriller with an effective performance that makes us emotionally reconcile with her character. Too bad we can't say the same for the rest of the cast, whose characters are never developed beyond being classified as heroes or villains. John Malkovich settles into a quasi-maniacal character who falls into exaggeration and without providing much context. While Jacki Weaver, Rosa Salazar and Lil Rel Howery are extremely wasted.

The non-chronological narrative style doesn't add much to the development of the story either, and at times becomes more of a distraction. One begins to draw conclusions about the fate of some characters instead of paying attention to what is happening on the screen. Although some sub-plots may feel familiar and even predictable, the truth is that Bullock's delivery and Bier's style make the final product work, especially on an emotional level. 

There are a couple of valid readings for Bird Box. In the first instance, it is a story about motherhood. The story presents us with the sacrifice of a woman willing to put her own life at risk in order to protect the two little ones that she is in charge of. Likewise, the post-apocalyptic context bears certain similarities with the political and social climate that is currently experienced in the United States and other parts of the world. 

We live blindfolded, unable to see the light, the truth. Hiding in the dark and prisoners of our own fears. As if we were birds living inside a shoe box with some holes that allow us to breathe and survive, but that restrict us from opening our wings and taking flight.

Netflix has a new commercial success on its hands. Bird Box managed to capture our attention from beginning to end thanks to its intriguing story and Sandra Bullock's magnificent lead performance. Although perhaps some questions remain unanswered, the truth is that Bird Box is an entertaining suspense film that also invites the viewer to reflect. 

There will be those who compare the film with A Quiet Place, also released this year. However, A Quiet Place was more of an exploration of one family coping with tragedy, while Bird Box is a tale of survival and motherhood. Of the sacrifices we are willing to selflessly make for the benefit of others.