My brother turned us on to the Bird Box yesterday and my son, his girlfriend, my wife, my brother, and myself ended up spread out over my living room, hissing at whomever dared to open their mouth and distract everyone else from the movie.
Sandra Bullock plays a pregnant woman who is forced to survive as madness grips the world. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, but still falls prey to some of the classic horror movie tropes. Be forewarned, if you keep reading, there are spoilers below.
I know that the group of survivors doesn’t really understand what is going on, but they know whatever it is, can kill you. So what do they do when they want to test Greg’s theory about using the security cameras? They tie him to a chair and leave him there.
What do they do with the car keys? They apparently left them where anyone could grab them.
What did they do when they let a newcomer into the group? They leave him along to work whatever mischief he wants.
Are they huge issues? Not really, the story moves fast and is edgy enough that you don’t notice, at least not until later. It is just one of those things that bothers me about survival movies. Don’t be stupid when people are dying all around you.
Is this a classic zombie movie? No. But whatever is possessing the people does cause them to turn violent and deadly. So this is a “zombie” movie of the possession type, very similar to Ghosts of Mars.
Do you ever get to see the monsters? Just through a madman’s drawings. Anyone who goes outside without a blindfolded gets taken over. It is a basic premise, but creates a massive amount of anxiety and suspense.
So what are the monsters possessing people? One of the frustrating things is that you never find out. Charlie goes on a rant very early in the movie, and it is pretty much the only time they address what is going on. The monsters appear as swirling bits of wind. The birds seem to be sensitive to their presence and give some early warning when they are close. Without much to go on I have to go with the little bit that Charlie gave us. It is the end of the world, and demons are cleansing the world. The things doing the possession were demons, and those who were truly bad in life were taken over completely.
It might sound corny, but it was really well done and the fact that they don’t spend a lot of time trying to explain it was actually good for the plot, if frustrating for those of us still digesting the movie a day later.
Overall, it was a good movie and kept us all on the edge of our seats and scores a solid 69/100. If you haven’t watched Bird Box yet, it is well worth watching.
| Review | Year | Score | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| #Alive | 2020 | 100 | Action / Infection |
| Dawn Of The Dead | 1978 | 100 | Action / Horror / Classics |
| Night Of The Living Dead | 1968 | 100 | Action / Horror / Classics |
| World War Z | 2013 | 100 | Action / Infection |
| 28 Days Later | 2002 | 100 | Action / Infection |
| Train To Busan | 2016 | 100 | Action / Infection |
| Zombieland | 2010 | 100 | Comedy / Action |
| Flesh And Blood | 2018 | 99 | Shorts |
| Serenity | 2005 | 99 | Action / Sci-Fi |
| The Girl With All The Gifts | 2016 | 95 | Action / Infection |
| Land Of The Dead | 2005 | 94 | Action / Horror |
| Resident Evil: Apocalypse | 2004 | 93 | Action / Infection |
| Resident Evil | 2002 | 92 | Action / Infection |
| Rampant | 2018 | 91 | Action / Infection / Mid Evil |
| Day of the Dead | 2008 | 90 | Action / Infection |
| Cooties | 2014 | 89 | Comedy / Action |
| The Return of the Living Dead | 1985 | 85 | Comedy / Action |
| Night of the Comet | 1984 | 85 | Comedy / Action |
| Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula | 2020 | 84 | Action / Infection |
| Zombieland: Double Tap | 2019 | 83 | Comedy / Action |
| Fido | 2006 | 82 | Comedy / Action |
| Shaun Of The Dead | 2004 | 81 | Comedy / Action |
| Zombie | 1979 | 80 | Action / Horror |
| The Evil Dead | 1981 | 80 | Classic / Action |
| I Am Legend (2007) | 2007 | 80 | Action / Infection |
| 28 Weeks Later | 2007 | 80 | Action / Infection |
| Infection | 2019 | 79 | Action / Infection |
| It Stains The Sands Red | 2016 | 79 | Action / Infection |
| Overlord | 2018 | 79 | Action / Horror |
| A Little Bit Zombie | 2012 | 78 | Comedy / Action |
| Plan Z | 2016 | 78 | Action / Infection |
| Wyrmwood: Apocalypse | 2021 | 77 | Action / Infection |
| Day of the Dead | 1985 | 77 | Action / Horror / Classics |
| Dead Rising: Endgame | 2016 | 77 | Action / Infection |
| Freaks of Nature | 2015 | 76 | Comedy / Action |
| The Dead | 2010 | 76 | Action / Infection |
| Cockneys Vs. Zombies | 2012 | 75 | Comedy / Action |
| Here Alone | 2016 | 75 | Suspense / Infection |
| The Battery | 2012 | 74 | Drama / Infection |
| Shed of the Dead | 2019 | 74 | Comedy / Action |
| Alone | 2020 | 73 | Action / Infection |
| Survival Of The Dead | 2009 | 73 | Action / Horror |
| State of Emergency | 2011 | 73 | Action / Infection |
| Remains | 2011 | 72 | Action / Infection |
| Dawning of the Dead | 2017 | 72 | Action / Infection |
| Dance of the Dead | 2008 | 72 | Comedy / Action |
| The Rezort | 2015 | 72 | Action / Infection |
| The Army of the Dead | 2021 | 71 | Action / Infection |
| Witness Infection | 2021 | 71 | Comedy / Action |
| Daylight's End | 2016 | 71 | Action / Infection |
| The Valley Of The Dead | 2021 | 70 | Horror / Infection |
| Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead | 2014 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse | 2015 | 70 | Comedy / Action |
| Resident Evil: Afterlife | 2010 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Night of the Living Deb | 2015 | 70 | Comedy / Romance |
| For A Few Zombies More | 2015 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Zombie Night | 2013 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Dead Rising: Watchtower | 2015 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Zombie Hunter | 2013 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| The Dead 2: India | 2015 | 70 | Action / Infection |
| Among The Living | 2022 | 69 | Suspense / Horror |
| Exit Humanity | 2011 | 69 | Action / Infection |
| Bird Box | 2018 | 69 | Action / Horror / Possession |
| Republic Z | 2018 | 68 | Action / Comedy |
| Blood Quantum | 2019 | 68 | Action / Infection |
| Ravenous | 2017 | 68 | Action / Infection |
| Quarantine | 2008 | 67 | Infection / Horror |
| Forget Everything And Run (F.E.A.R.) | 2021 | 67 | Suspense / Horror |
| The Night Eats The World | 2018 | 67 | Suspense / Infection |
| Ultimate Zombie Feast | 2020 | 66 | Shorts/ Action |
| How To Kill A Zombie | 2014 | 66 | Action / Comedy |
| Cargo | 2017 | 66 | Suspense / Infection |
| Trench 11 | 2017 | 66 | Action / Horror |
| Dead County | 2021 | 65 | Drama / Horror |
| Zombie Town | 2007 | 65 | Action / Horror |
| Zoombies | 2016 | 65 | Awesomely Bad |
| The End? | 2017 | 64 | Horror / Infection |
| Quarantine 2 | 2011 | 64 | Action / Infection |
| Zombie Apocalypse | 2011 | 64 | Action / Infection |
| Red Spring | 2017 | 63 | Action / Infection |
| Virus:32 | 2022 | 62 | Horror / Infection |
| Resident Evil: Extinction | 2007 | 62 | Action / Infection |
| Resident Evil Retribution | 2012 | 61 | Action / Infection |
| Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead | 2023 | 60 | Comedy / Action |
| Resident Evil: The Final Chapter | 2016 | 60 | Action / Infection |
| Life After Beth | 2014 | 59 | Comedy / Action |
| Diary Of The Dead | 2007 | 58 | Action / Horror |
| Revelation Trail | 2013 | 57 | Action / Horror |
| Eat Brains Love | 2019 | 56 | Comedy / Horror |
| My Mates vs. The Zombie Apocalypse | 2015 | 56 | Comedy / Action |
| Deadsight | 2018 | 55 | Suspense / Infection |
| Anna And The Apocalypse | 2017 | 55 | Musical / Infection |
| Amigo Undead | 2015 | 54 | Comedy / Horror |
| Bong of the Living Dead | 2017 | 54 | Action / Infection |
| Black Friday | 2021 | 53 | Action / Horror |
| The Dead Undead | 2010 | 53 | Action / Infection |
| Redcon-1 | 2018 | 52 | Action / Horror |
| Deadheads | 2011 | 52 | Comedy / Romance |
| Dead Don't Die in Dallas | 2019 | 51 | Action / Infection / LGBTQ |
| Day of the Dead: Bloodline | 2018 | 51 | Action / Infection |
| Road Wars | 2015 | 50 | Action / Infection |
| Disaster L.A. | 2014 | 50 | Action |
| Zombie Strippers! | 2008 | 49 | Horror / Comedy |
| Within the Woods of Undead County | 2016 | 49 | Action / Infection |
| Day Zero | 2023 | 48 | Horror / Infection |
| Rise of The Zombies | 2012 | 48 | Action / Infection |
| I Am Alone | 2015 | 48 | Action / Infection |
| Valentine DayZ | 2018 | 47 | Action / Infection / Awesomely Bad |
| Lethal Virus | 2021 | 46 | Action / Horror |
| Savageland | 2015 | 46 | Horror / Drama |
| Zombie Warz: Falls The Shadow | 2011 | 45 | Action / Horror |
| Infected | 2019 | 45 | Shorts |
| Bridge of the Doomed | 2022 | 44 | Horror / Infection |
| Block Z | 2020 | 44 | Action / Infection |
| Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City | 2021 | 43 | Action / Horror |
| The Dead Don't Die | 2019 | 43 | Spoof / Drama |
| The Plague | 2006 | 42 | Action / Horror |
| Strain 100 | 2020 | 42 | Action / Infection |
| Infected | 2021 | 41 | Action / Horror |
| Before Dawn | 2013 | 41 | Drama / Action |
| When the Fever Breaks | 2019 | 41 | Suspense / Infection |
| Zombie Undead | 2010 | 40 | Action / Infection |
| Hostile | 2017 | 40 | Action / Infection |
| Dead Before Down | 2012 | 39 | Horror / Supernatural |
| Gangs Of The Dead | 2006 | 38 | Action / Infection |
| Zombies | 2017 | 37 | Action / Infection |
| American Zombieland | 2020 | 36 | Comedy / Infection |
| Cannon Fodder / Battle Of The Undead | 2013 | 35 | Action / Horror |
| Zombie Diaries 2 | 2011 | 35 | Action / Infection |
| Dead Trigger | 2017 | 35 | Action / Infection |
| Deadlocked | 2020 | 35 | Action / Infection |
| Another World | 2014 | 35 | Action / Infection |
| Evilution | 2009 | 34 | Action / Horror |
| KL24: Zombies | 2017 | 34 | Action / Infection |
| Re-Elected | 2020 | 33 | Comedy / Suspense |
| Antisocial 2 | 2015 | 33 | Action / Infection |
| Aquarium of the Dead | 2021 | 32 | Comedy / Horror |
| Antisocial | 2013 | 32 | Action / Infection |
| By Day's End | 2020 | 31 | Suspense / Infection |
| Dead 7 | 2016 | 31 | Action / Infection |
| Pandemic | 2016 | 30 | Action / Infection |
| Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies | 2017 | 29 | Comedy / Action |
| Zombie Hood | 2013 | 28 | Action / Infection |
| The Dustwalker | 2019 | 27 | Action / Parasite |
| Day of the Dead 2: Contagium | 2005 | 26 | Action / Infection |
| Solar Impact | 2019 | 25 | Action / Horror |
| Anger Of The Dead | 2015 | 25 | Action / Infection |
| The Last Hope | 2017 | 24 | Action / Infection |
| The Day of the Living Dead | 2014 | 23 | Drama / Detective |
| Zombie Road | 2018 | 22 | Shorts |
| Zombie Wars | 2007 | 21 | Action / Infection |
| Army of Thieves | 2021 | 20 | Heist / Horror |
| Last Rites Of The Dead | 2019 | 20 | Drama / Thriller |
| The Mad | 2007 | 19 | Comedy / Infection |
| The Living Dead | 2020 | 18 | Horror / Drama |
| Zone of the Dead | 2009 | 17 | Action / Infection |
| Killer Weekend | 2018 | 16 | Comedy / Not Zombies |
| G Zombie | 2021 | 15 | Drama / Infection |
| Quarantine L.A. | 2013 | 14 | Action / Infection |
| Driven | 2020 | 13 | Drama / Suspense |
| The Hive | 2014 | 12 | Demonic Possession / Horror |
| The Horde | 2016 | 11 | Action / Gore |
| Rebirth | 2020 | 10 | Action / Horror |
| The Last Starship | 2017 | 10 | Action / Infection |
| Rising Undead / Rise of the Undead | 2005 | 9 | Action / Horror |
| Rise of the Zombie | 2013 | 9 | Drama / Action |
| Plague | 2014 | 8 | Suspense / Drama |
| Flu | 2013 | 8 | Infection / Not Zombies |
| Red Days | 2016 | 7 | Action / Infection |
| The Returned | 2013 | 6 | Drama / Romance |
| Apocalypse Nerds | 2012 | 5 | Comedy / Action |
| Zombie with a Shotgun | 2019 | 4 | Infection / Drama |
| Soon Enough | 2018 | 3 | Action / Drama |
| Army of the Dead | 2008 | 2 | Action / Horror |
| Range 15 | 2016 | 2 | Comedy / Action |
| Nazi Undead | 2018 | 1 | Paranormal / Horror |
| Pandemic | 2009 | 1 | Drama / Action |
| Eyes Of The Dead | 2015 | 1 | Action / Infection |
| All My Friends Are Dead | 2021 | 0 | Horror / Not Zombies |
| Curse of the Blind Dead | 2020 | 0 | Horror / Not Zombies |
| Carriers | 2009 | 0 | Drama / Not Zombies |
| Afflicted | 2013 | 0 | Drama / Infection |
| Broadcast Dead | 2018 | 0 | Horror / Thriller |
| Dead End | 2003 | 0 | Horror / Thriller |
