Annihilation

The Shimmer first appeared three years ago after a meteor crashed at a lighthouse in St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Its emergence marked the beginning of a mysterious phenomenon that expands continuously, prompting scientific investigation and exploratory missions.

Lena, a cellular biology professor, and her team set out on a mission to explore the Shimmer and unravel its mysteries. Equipped for a two-week journey, they unexpectedly remain trapped within its borders for an astonishing four months, enduring harrowing challenges and dangers.

Kane returns home after being missing for a year while on a mission connected to the Shimmer. His emotional detachment and strange behavior create tension between him and Lena, raising concerns about the experiences he underwent during his disappearance.

While attempting to take Kane to the hospital due to severe health issues, Lena and Kane are intercepted by an armed government unit. They are taken to Area X, a highly secretive zone under military control, as the government seeks answers about the Shimmer.

Inside Area X, psychologist Dr. Ventress recruits Lena for a scientific team assigned to investigate the Shimmer's effects. Along with Lena, the team members include Josie, Cass, and Anya, each bringing their expertise to tackle the unknown threat.

Dr. Ventress reveals the fate of previous military expeditions, including one involving Kane. The teams ventured into the Shimmer with the aim to reach the lighthouse but returned without any survivors, highlighting the dangerous allure of the anomaly.

As the team delves deeper into the Shimmer, they begin experiencing disorientation and memory gaps. Communication tools fail, causing confusion and heightening the team's anxiety as they struggle to keep track of their surroundings and time.

The team witnesses horrific mutations among flora and fauna, including a disturbing encounter with a hybrid alligator. Fear escalates as these bizarre anomalies underscore the Shimmer's grasp on the natural world and the dangers it harbors.

Tension peaks when a mutated bear-like creature attacks and kills team member Cass. The surviving members become increasingly paranoid and suspicious of each other, driven by fear and the stress of their surroundings.

Anya becomes the next victim of the creature that killed Cass. The remaining team members are pushed to their limits as they grapple with distress and the dire consequences of the Shimmer's influence, which amplifies their worst fears.

The team stumbles upon an eerie settlement filled with humanoid-shaped plants. This shocking revelation reveals the Shimmer's ability to alter everything it touches, as Lena tests her own blood to confirm the distortion occurring within them.

As the team approaches the lighthouse, they confront the core of the Shimmer's mystery. Ventress's ambitious quest to confront the Shimmer leads them to face the transmutative forces at play, where Lena must make crucial decisions.

Inside the lighthouse, Ventress undergoes a harrowing transformation into a luminous entity, embodying the essence of the Shimmer. This metamorphosis reveals the depths of the Shimmer's consciousness, exposing Lena to the terrifying reality of their situation.

Lena uses a phosphorus grenade against the entity that once was Ventress, triggering a catastrophic explosion that obliterates the lighthouse. This explosion marks the diminishing of the Shimmer's horrific influence, but at a great cost.

In the aftermath of the explosion, Lena reunites with Kane, who has regained consciousness but questions his own identity. Their embrace is overshadowed by uncertainty as their irises shimmer and shift colors, leaving Lena questioning what has truly changed.