Bird Box is a post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film directed by Susanne Bier, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman.
Bird Box follows Malorie Hayes (played by Sandra Bullock), a woman trying to protect herself and two children from unseen, malevolent entities. The film begins five years after the initial outbreak of mass suicides, with Malorie attempting to guide the children to safety down a dangerous river, all while blindfolded to avoid seeing the creatures.
The story is told through a combination of present-day sequences and flashbacks that explore the early days of the apocalypse and Malorie’s experiences. The flashbacks reveal how Malorie, who was initially pregnant, sought refuge with a group of strangers in a house after the outbreak started. The group struggles to survive, but their numbers dwindle as they face not only the threat of the creatures but also internal conflicts and the appearance of other dangerous survivors.
Throughout the film, the exact nature of the creatures is never fully revealed, adding to the terror of the unknown. They can only be sensed by their effect on the environment, such as the rustling of leaves or distant whispering, which lures people into opening their eyes. Those who see the creatures are instantly driven to either kill themselves or become deranged and force others to look at the creatures.
