Bird Box (2018)★★★☆☆

So, this one I definitely remember reading. I think I may have even read this before the movie came out, but after the movie was announced? Either way, I’m pretty sure it was my first Josh Malerman book, and since then I’ve ready Malorie (the sequel to Bird Box), Daphne, Black Mad Wheel, Inspection, Pearl, and Goblin, so I guess you could say I liked his writing!

But that also makes this a little harder to review. The book was tense and gripping, and had slower pacing that I don’t mind in books (I read fast!), but that gets to me a bit in film (have I mentioned before that I’m not a fan of slow movies? I’m sure it’s come up once or twice…). And this movie is over two hours long.

The first hour and a half or so worked really well for me. It was also tense and gripping, and I really like Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich. The early changes from the book make sense to keep the movie flowing and to show some of the “unfilmable” things in the novel.

The later changes, particularly to the ending and one of the major characters, worked less for me. I think they take away from Malorie’s strength and ingenuity, as well as the real struggle for survival she faces in the book.

Also, this movie feels long! Especially towards the end! Like they rush through some things just to slow way down for other things! Anyway, this isn’t a bad adaptation. I found it mostly watchable. But I would definitely recommend the book over the film.