Annihilation (2018) is a science fiction psychological thriller directed by Alex Garland, based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel. The story follows Lena, a biologist and former soldier, who joins a mysterious expedition into a strange, otherworldly zone known as “The Shimmer.” This area, located on the coast, has been expanding and distorting the natural environment, causing rapid mutations to both plants and animals. Lena is part of a team of scientists, each with their own motivations, tasked with uncovering the truth behind the Shimmer and its unsettling effects.

As the team ventures deeper, they encounter bizarre and terrifying phenomena, revealing the boundaries between biology, consciousness, and transformation. The deeper they go, the more their perceptions of reality begin to fracture, testing their sanity and survival. The film explores themes of self-destruction, change, and the unknown, leading to a mind-bending conclusion that leaves the audience questioning the nature of human existence and the forces of nature that lie beyond comprehension.