“Annihilation” is a 2018 science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by Alex Garland, based on Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel of the same name. The film stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, and Oscar Isaac. It is noted for its thought-provoking narrative, striking visuals, and unsettling atmosphere.

The film opens with Lena’s interrogation by a government official following her return from The Shimmer. Through flashbacks, we learn that Lena’s husband, Kane, mysteriously reappeared after being missing for a year following his mission into The Shimmer. Kane is in a critical condition, prompting Lena to join a new team sent to explore the phenomenon and find answers.

As Lena and the team enter The Shimmer, they encounter a landscape where DNA is being manipulated in extraordinary ways, resulting in mutated plants and animals. The environment becomes increasingly bizarre and dangerous as they venture deeper.

The team faces various threats, including a mutated bear that attacks them, leading to the deaths of some members. The psychological stress and surreal experiences take a toll on the group, leading to paranoia and tension.

Lena discovers that The Shimmer’s source appears to be an extraterrestrial entity that crashed into a lighthouse at its center. As the team members succumb to the mutations or are killed, Lena reaches the lighthouse alone. Inside, she finds a video of Kane’s apparent suicide and the emergence of his doppelgänger, suggesting that the being who returned to her was not her real husband.

Lena encounters an alien entity that mimics her movements and appearance, resulting in a tense and surreal confrontation. She manages to destroy the entity by setting off a phosphorus grenade, causing the lighthouse and The Shimmer to collapse.