steven-crozier

I am a big fan of alien "invasion" movies that don't feature bug-eyed ET's with ray guns confronting the military might of the world -- Annihilation and Arrival are among my favorites for this reason.

Animalia is firmly in this camp -- a gentle, meditative film that uses the backdrop of the deliberately vague and non-specific arrival of an extraterrestrial presence on Earth to make some truly poignant commentary on class, gender, religion, and the nature of reality. This movie unfolds slowly and is more interested in philosophy and metaphysics than special effects. Pace your expectations accordingly and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Although the production values are very high and the SFX are done well, what I enjoy most about this series is that it focuses primarily (and very interestingly) on the relationships between the characters, with an emphasis on romantic relationships. In so doing, it pushes the boundaries of gender relationships in atypical ways for this genre (for example, in Part One the lead male character becomes the disciple of the lead female character). Women have very central and powerful roles in this series, a break with tradition which I very much enjoy. The acting is also first-rate. Highly recommended.

There are many quibbles one *might* have with this movie -- could lose at least 20 minutes, the score was hilariously overwrought at times, some of the "drama" was contrived, etc etc. But all of this PALES in comparison to the incredibly professional look, the highly-skilled directorial presence, the first-rate acting, the incredibly real look of all the gear and effects, the passion and heart pouring off the screen.... and the fact that they did it WITH NO BUDGET. This is an amazing accomplishment and none of the "oh come on" moments detracted from the overall impact of a well-made movie by people who clearly love sci-fi films. I hope this earns these two guys a sweet deal with a real budget -- I can't wait to see what they do next. Well done, chaps!!!!