My thoughts

The movie has some upsides. The concept is decent and original; and although the movie isn’t scary, the atmosphere is very tense when they’re in the forest. The actors do a fine job: the old lady Madelynn gives the best performance

Still: the movie isn’t nearly as good as it should be. The pacing isn’t good; the movie drags at times. There were multiple instances where I grew impatient because I wanted the movie to just get on with it. The movie tries a little too hard to be weird - some of the scenes, dialogue, and plot details feel forced (eg the watchers give round of applause at one point?)

I don’t find the ending plausible: the professor had child with one of the creatures that he captured? Dakota Fanning is able to get inside the professor’s office just by telling them that she’s his niece? The creature decides to spare Dakota Fanning and then flies off because Dakota Fanning simply says, “hey, I think you’re a hybrid , and there might be more of you!” Then the creature, for some reason, watches over Dakota Fanning?

In addition, the movie tries too hard to be mysterious to the point where details just aren’t clear to the viewer by the end. There’s this whole subplot involving Dakota Fanning’s mother and sister, which the movie doesn’t explain well. Similarly, I still don’t quite grasp the history of the creatures, the story of the professor, and the existence of that forest etc.

5/10