Huge fans of Julia Roberts, we always thought Sandra Bullock gets to sign movies that Roberts didn’t find good enough to be a part of. We switched our loyalties to Sandra Bullock after watching 2009 feature film “The Blind Side” and many took notice of her acting skills and her choice of movies. Her portrayal of a loving mother to a foster teenage kid in Blind Side got her the best actress Oscar and a Golden Globe award. The caring mother role has taken a different dimension in Bird Box – A Netflix original movie where she has to save the kids (interestingly named “Boy” and “Girl”) from some supernatural powers.
Bird Box is a late 2018 release which we get to see on Netflix in India in 2019.

Directed by Susanne Bier, the film is based on a book with the same name and deals with devil powers that drive people to commit suicides as soon as anybody looks at them. The only way to save yourself from these powers is to stay inside or stay blindfolded when outside. Malorie (played brilliantly by Sandra Bullock) has to save two kids from these powers and she sets on a journey on a boat through a river and jungle, blindfolded to reach a safe place.

Calling it edge of the seat would be an understatement when along with horror, the film is emotional and so full of metaphors. The interpretation and guessing goes on in your mind throughout the movie… is the blindfold a metaphor for blind faith? Sometimes you have to embark on a journey with just a hint, an illusion, a faith… even without knowing if there is a destination to that journey. The ghost whispers in the film…. are they our fears or the ever illusive “Could haves”? Not for a moment we were free of this inner dialogue while watching Bird Box. The poignant climax is a cherry on the icing.

Despite the fact that there are some questions left unanswered, the film is intelligent, engaging and entertaining at the same time. Keep it up Netflix.