Alex Garland manages to create something that's deep, but not cryptic. Everything it deals with thematically is laid out in front of you through the conversations the characters have. There are still moments that require thought on the viewer's part, such as the symbolism heavy final showdown, but it's nice to see a sci-fi movie that strives to be intelligent without being vague. At least in regards as to what it all is supposed to mean. The science side of it is where you're forced to draw your own conclusions. The film gives only the most basic of explanations as to what is causing all of the weird mutations found in the ever-growing "Shimmer" the cast explores. It's up to us to piece together why it's affecting things in the way that it is. I'm no cellular-biologist, but I think the reason Garland didn't go deeper on this front is because he knew there was no reasoning he could give for the things happening onscreen that would have any basis in reality. It's a pretty out there concept, but given how significant all the DNA talk in the movie seems to be it's a little odd that the whole premise would exist solely on McGuffin thought up to be little more than a take it at face value excuse for all the gorgeous weirdness onscreen. While this leaves me with some mixed feelings, it does exemplify one of the movie's best traits; for something striving to be so thought-provoking, it's remarkably unpretentious. If anything it enjoys indulging in the gory, B-movie thrills that come from being a body horror that's part creature feature. One of the best in quite some time in terms of grotesqueness and tension. It has what might be the best jump scare I've ever seen and the entire lighthouse segment is nothing short of horrifying. The visuals are mostly gorgeous. Light and bright colors are used to show off the natural and unnatural beauty of the strange new environment while simultaneously reminding us about the danger hidden inside it by capitalizing on the scenery's alien qualities. The weaker moments of CGI and a few noticeable green screens can make this feel somewhat low-budget at times. Nothing that really gets in the way of the movie, but something that stands out nonetheless. The soundtrack on the other hand is outstanding across the board. Aside from dealing with the typical subject matter associated with the body horror, Annihilation is about depression, regret, self-destruction, and how much mental stress a person can endure before their minds break. It's all told in a very human way thanks to it's damaged protagonists, but the overall film isn't as engaging as it could have been. Mostly due to the pacing and manner in which the story is told. Especially in comparison to Garland's directorial debut, Ex Machina. I was never bored, but there are some unexciting stretches in the 2 hour running time. While I don't think it was too complex for the average moviegoer, I can see why Paramount chose to avoid a full international wide-release. The fact that it's still brainier than your average movie made it too challenging for success in the superhero age of cinema. While having it's flaws, it offers enough traditional stimulation to keep one's attention. Another valiant effort by Garland to do something different in a time where that sort of courage is becoming less and less profitable.