With an intriguing premise and a strong performance by lead Sandra Bullock, Bird Box does its best to live up to its own marketing hype. Netflix announced on December 28 that more than 45 million accounts watched the film in the first seven days of its release—a new record for Netflix film debuts. But a successful viewership does not equate to a successful viewing experience. Netflix's near desperate attempt to procure a hit film has resulted in a streaming-movie with a few great moments mixed in with a bowl of plain oatmeal. Yes, there are the occasional bursts of blueberries, but overall later you'll be asking something along the lines of, "What did I have for breakfast again?"
What gives Bird Box a head start amongst the influx of low budget horror movies is its intriguing premise: people around the world start to commit suicide after seeing an unknown entity, hence the blindfold. It's kooky, an idea that sounds better on paper than on screen. But fortunately for Netflix, visually the film controls its serious tone without being unintentionally comical. It's able to hold itself together until it reaches its cookie-cutter ending.
The finale is not the only part that lacks originality. All of the minor characters that Sandra Bullock's character, Malorie, holes up with during the initial end-of-the-world sequence are stereotyped personas shaped with little to no depth. From the young cop and felon couple, to the cynical, middle-aged white man, to the panic-stricken Black guy spilling the entire situation for the audience, to the gay Asian man whose house they hide in—all gingerbread people with no flavor. Thankfully, it's not their story. Unfortunately, Malorie's arc isn't much of an improvement. Besides the one pivotal and heart-wrenching moment with Girl grasping her situation on the boat, Malorie's attempt to become a more caring person is a graceless endeavor that juxaposes Sandra Bullock's skill with a rushed script.
But what can be expected from a script so apparently cut and pasted together to manufacture a streaming event, a Netflix fad. If you haven't seen the movie yet, it's probably too late by now, that boat has sailed. And if you have, just count it as a nice afternoon in and move on, don't look back. But if you think Bird Box is a marvel, both in title and execution, you can take off your blindfold now. Unless you already have, in which case seek help. You might be a psychopath.