50 Greatest Horror Movies Of The 21st Century
40. Annihilation
Plot: A team, led by Lena (Natalie Portman), head into a mysterious zone to investigate an alien phenomenon known as the Shimmer.
Alex Garland's art-house science-fiction horror film, which seemed to have borrowed heavily (and intelligently) from Andrei Tarkovsky's classic masterpiece Stalker, has drawn polarized responses since its release. Thanks to its slow pace, bleak tone and impenetrable story it's quite a difficult, unconventional film but if you look at it as more of a mood piece that puts imagery and abstract ideas over a straightforward narrative, than Annihilation is great.
A chilling, visually stunning and genuinely frightening horror film - it actually one-ups The Revenant for the most frightening bear scene in film history - Annihilation delivers many great scares but it also very thought-provoking and, thanks to its rich symbolism and interesting themes, it provides an absolute ton of food for thought. This won't be for everyone but if you can fully get on-board with its vibes, you're in for a great watch.