What Does The Ending Of Annihilation Really Mean?

1. The Future Of Humanity

Despite Annihilation being (very loosely) based on a trilogy of books, Garland has stated that he has "zero plans" for any sort of sequel, which all things considered - for the sake of preserving its tantalising ambiguity and that paltry box office haul - is probably for the best.

Still, Garland sews some fascinating seeds for audiences to consider what happens from here. Firstly, is the Shimmer absolutely, unequivocally gone? It's clearly living on in Lena and Kane in some form, but what will this allow them to do? Can they exert influence on the cellular structures of those around them? Will it grant them extended life or maybe even biological immortality?

What about procreation? If Lena and Kane's new forms do decide to stay together - and that's a big "if", but the pull would be undeniably tantalising - could they effectively begin the creation of a new, advanced form of humanity?

Garland leaves the door wide open but with virtually no hint of what is to come for these two, so as wonderfully frustrating as it is, it's all left in the audience's lap.

This is amusingly similar to the end of the director's prior film Ex Machina, where AI Ava (Alicia Vikander) escapes to the outside world, but her fate and the influence she exerts on the world is left totally up in the air.

What did you think of Annihilation's insane finale? Shout it out in the comments!