Vivarium (2019)

Vivarium comes preloaded with a promising premise and some interesting parallels to parenting, coerced and otherwise.

We are immediately hit with images of a cuckoo, calling attention to brood parasitism. The parallel this creates with our characters' later predicament suggests that their suffering is rooted in the parasitic nature of the exchange.

However, many of the parallels presented in the film seem applicable to conventional parental circumstances as well. One such example is spousal alienation over how to parent their offspring. Another convention observed is a division of labor where daytime child-rearing is designated to the mother.

Imogen Poots’ performance is individually noteworthy, effectively acting as school teacher, wife, prisoner, and parent. Her skills are of particular note during the veiled interrogation of the creature, where enthusiasm and encouragement, and later pure terror, are etched indelibly on her face. Another standout scene was her grief when the creature coldly responds to Tom's decline; she was near unintelligible with sorrow, her face ridden with anguish.

The chemistry between our leads is not evenly distributed throughout the film; they do not seem as familiar with each other as the story might suggest. The performances seen in the introductory flirtation fall flat. There is a legitimate strength in some of their physical chemistry, but this is undermined as dialogue delivery is less consistent.

The visuals are underwhelming in general. Observing a dogmatic attitude toward visual uniformity, while intentional, ends up working against the film. Far-away shots are uninteresting because of the optical monotony. Other parts of the cinematography feel sterile, due in part to subpar digital effects used to create the film's vivarium.

The story often lulls, with intentional halts of progression which negatively impact not just the characters, but the narrative and the audience. There is also a frequent overcommitment of itself to the drudgery of its pessimistic parental parallels.

Offering an uneven experience, managing to be both thought provoking but a bit boring, Vivarium is a worthy pick for those seeking something more conceptual than material.