Bird Box

          This new post-apocalyptic thriller is out now in a few theaters but also streaming on Netflix. It stars Sandra Bullock as a woman on the run with two small children trying to avoid some unseen supernatural creature that, when viewed, brings out a person's worst fears and nightmares causing them to become suicidal. It's sort of a distant cousin to " A Quiet Place" but instead of staying quiet, now everyone must keep their eyes closed or wear blindfolds to avoid the creatures. The premise sounds sillier than how it actually plays out, as the film is fairly suspenseful and exciting.

           The story begins with Ms. Bullock on the run with the two children but quickly flashes back to five years earlier when the creatures suddenly start to appear all over the world. There is no explanation and the world is quickly thrown into chaos as people everywhere begin to kill themselves and in doing so, inadvertently others as well. Alternating between flashbacks and the present, we meet Ms. Bullock's sister, played by Sarah Paulson and a small group of survivors that Ms. Bullock initially joins to hide from the creatures. The group includes John Malkovich, Trevante Rhodes, Jackie Weaver, B.D. Wong, Danielle MacDonald, and Tom Hollander. We also follow Ms. Bullock and the children in the present, as they navigate blindfolded through a forest and on a river, in an attempt to find safe haven.

           There are many illogical moments and "leap of faith" plot points but the film moves at a swift pace and with danger lurking everywhere, you can overlook the logic and just go with the action, enjoying Ms. Bullock in "full tilt" survival mode.