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Not sure why we assume they are "creatures"....SPOILERS

posted 6 years ago by replicant4 (219)
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It seems much more like an affliction or phenomenon than a bunch of physical entities doing this. I'd be more inclined to assume people are having some kind of reaction to a virus....or something in the mist...or even a magnetic field or the radiation/ultraviolet light of an unidentified nature, or poisonous gas.....than assume "creatures" are driving people mad. For example, if a bunch of creatures were all around, wouldn't Malorie and the kids have been much more..."vulnerable" to a physical attack while drifting down a river, blindfolded. Or...while walking through a forest, blindfolded. I didn't read the book, so maybe there's more of an implication that they are indeed physical beings creating this mayhem. But it sure is not made clear in the film.

Also...there's no rhyme or reason to why SOME people are impervious to the self-destruction effect, and instead just go around like psychotic "recruiters", trying to get people to look into the sky.

Also, as another poster pointed out....the older guy in the suit that they let in....was apparently one of those crazy "recruiter" people. However, he was able to act normal around the group and conceal that he had been affected....until such time as he was ready to make his moves. That's yet another inconsistent (or least unexplained) wrinkle.

Also, early on....it's KIND OF implied that whatever it is people look at....is personal to each individual. For example, the lady who was John Malkovich's wife....spoke to her mother when looking at the vision in the sky. However, the writers didn't do much more with that particular premise, that I can recall. Except I do seem to remember "voices" beckoning Malorie while she was looking for the 2 kids in the forest--trying to trick her?

Having said all this, I did enjoy the film. It was good and spooky (and TENSE). And Sandra B. really committed to the role. It was good. Could have been GREAT.

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

They were crab people... obviously.

[–] BrunoAntony (1198) 6 years ago

They never defined what the entities were, which is fine.

But, yeah, the “powers” they displayed were annoyingly inconsistent.

[–] ILJtheFirst (2104) 6 years ago

Maybe it was on purpose, like how "The Road" was a combination of several doomsday scenarios that happened together.

[–] mobocracy (891) 6 years ago

My understanding is that Cormac McCarthy based his apocalypse around the effects of a large comet or asteroid impact. He left it out of the book because he didn't think it was important. Its about the best explanation for the way the world was presented.

[–] Threadkiller (3075) 6 years ago

Also, as another poster pointed out....the older guy in the suit that they let in....was apparently one of those crazy "recruiter" people. However, he was able to act normal around the group and conceal that he had been affected....until such time as he was ready to make his moves. That's yet another inconsistent (or least unexplained) wrinkle.

That was the main thing that bothered me about the movie. How he was able to act completely normal, No "infected" eyes to give him away. coming up with a convincing, detailed story like some Russian spy, only to go full on psycho to reek havoc when he's left alone and everyone is distracted. I still stuck wondering how was he able to mask being infected/possessed/indoctrinated or whatever you want to call it. My biggest gripe in an otherwise solid, well acted and suspenseful little supernatural thriller.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

But he wasn't affected at that point. Hence his eyes changed when he looked out the window.

I believed his story. He wasn't a recruiter. I just think he personally decided... fuck it.

[–] Threadkiller (3075) 6 years ago

So he was a mentally ill person pretending to be normal "but not yet indoctrinated" who narrowly escaped from the clutches "indoctrinated" crazy people, holds up with a group of survivors and suddenly starts acting very odd and decides "f*ck it! I'm curious to see these things" when he's left alone for 2 minutes? That's makes even less sense.

Not to mention it doesn't explain why he's got a office bag full of creepy drawings, presumably of the creatures which suggests that he's seen them & was one of the indoctrinated crazies the entire time.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

Maybe I missed something. Why are we assuming he was mentally ill? Did he say something?

All I remember was that he went crazy once he looked out the window (that's when his eyes changed) Before that he was just a normal guy.

[–] Maximus256 (62) 6 years ago

No, I think he was crazy but pretending to be normal the whole time. If you remember, right after he arrived, they were all in the kitchen listening to a Dionne Warwick song on the radio. He was singing along non-chalantly but kept glancing nervously at the 3 birds in the birdcage. Yes, he was non-chalantly anxious.

Then we find out at the end that birds can detect and warn people when the “things” are near. So either (1) he was afraid the birds would give him away, or (2) he was watching the birds for clues that the things had arrived so he could tear the newspaper off the windows and start "recruiting".

[–] lovinthis12001 (20) 6 years ago

I think he was mentally I'll and they don't react like everyone else who seems them. So he was able to act normal until he got a moment to try to make everyone look. If he had tried earlier on that could have overpowered him.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

Wrong. He had drawings of the creatures. This heavily implies he’s seen them and therefor was infected but for some reason crazy people are immune to the suicide part of being exposed to the monsters.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

Nope, not wrong. Those drawings were simply what he assumed the creatures looked like. Hence they were ALL completely different.

Again, if he had already looked at them then why did his eyes only change when he looked out the window?

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

I doubt it will ever be explained, but I have a feeling Gary was able to transition between states, and ended up becoming this sort-of spy for what he considered another lifeform that prefers children to see it.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

That makes zero sense. Why would he have drawings of what he thinks the monsters look like? He’s seen them. Crazy people aren’t affected by them like regular people are.

[–] Shibez (910) 6 years ago

Maybe people with split personalities are immune to it...

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

It was established that “crazy people” are immune.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

Makes total sense.

We don't even know that he drew them. Seems more likely that the crazy people drew them and he took them from the institution. He then wanted to see them for himself and THAT is when he chose to look out the window.

Again, for the millionth time, why do his eyes only change when he looks out the window if he has already looked?

[–] Calledforblackup (112) 6 years ago

Right before he went off the rails, he was drawing them..... it was his drawings

[–] Jehosaphet (1063) 6 years ago

Because his infatuation with them was resparked? Because that's the affect of looking at them?
He was inside for a couple days...pulled out his drawings...he loves these creatures, adores them even...and maybe he missed them. And when he saw an opportunity, he took it. Possibly gazing on the pictures to give himself courage...to remind himself of their beauty.
And with the kind of passion he had, the vehemence in which he demanded that others look upon them...its almost like they had a hypnotic effect on him...like a drug. And looking at them lit him up, so to speak.
They mesmerize him, have him bedazzled, he's getting his fix...and his eyes reflect that. His enchantment has been rekindled, I suppose.

At least, he sure didn't seem like someone who'd JUST gotten bedazzled. Besides, he had to have been crazy to begin with, right? So its likely he'd been pretending to be normal that entire time...hiding his insanity.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

He started making a sketch right before he went crazy, numb nuts. Those are his drawings.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

Hmmm, I'll have to check that again. I don't recall that.

And I'm still waiting for an explanation for why his eyes only change once he looks out the window. Did he look, get better, then look again and get re-infected?

Numb balls.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

You’re a moron.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

Calm down, lad, I know Christmas can be very exciting.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

For the millionth time. Crazy/mentally ill people are not effected by the demons. What’s so hard to understand. Are you thick?

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

For the millionth time, his eyes don't change until he looks.

You're a fucking cretin.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha dumb fuck

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

Crazy people are obviously affected, just in a different way. When they become infected, they act as servants of it with the specific intent to get people to see it.

Gary was an anomaly. He was either acting as a servant of it without seeing it first, or his eyes were able to change back and forth.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

Not affected the same way regular people are. Duh. They don't commit suicide like regular people do. That's what I mean by "not affected by the demons". Why is comprehension such a struggle with everyone on here?

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

Not only did you say they were not affected, you said they were immune. They aren't. Immunity is what the blind people exhibited.

It's fun watching you get triggered by your own inability to communicate though, lol.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

Yeah I said mentally I’ll/crazy people are immune to the suicide aspect of seeing the creatures. I never said they’re completely immune to the creatures. Learn to read. It's fun watching you struggle with basic forms of comprehension though lmao. Knuckle dragging mong.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

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[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

If it's the first time he's ever looked then why didn't he immediately try and kill him self? You see, there's this thing called context clues that tells the audience that crazy/mentally ill people are affected differently from the demon monsters. For example, they don't commit suicide upon looking at them and they want other people to see what they've seen. This literally happens with every single crazy person main characters come across. Example, guy in the river, the crazy group the black dude shoots up, grocery store guy and Gary. The crazy people try and make regular people see the demons. This fits Gary's characterization to a T. He's crazy and wants the others to witness what he's witnessed. We know he's witnessed these monsters and is crazy because he keeps drawings of what he's seen and he begins to make another sketch right before he goes on a rampage and he also doesn't commit suicide when he opens the blinds. You keep harping on "WeLl WhY dIdNt hIs EyEs ChAnGe?" It was established that crazy people aren't affected the same as regular people, the movie tells us this and ultimately his eyes don't matter. You keep focusing on an irrelevant point.

Checkmate, dumb ass.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

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[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

You're literally the only person that thinks those drawings aren't Gary's. Plonker

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

So he's been looking at the creatures, drawing them, took them to the house, kept drawing them, but his eyes only change once he looks out the window.

Nah. You're a teapot and you know it.

Listen to the story he tells about the crazies when he first arrives at the house. Their lack of being affected fascinates him. What they claim to see fascinates him. He wants to see what they see. He slowly loses his mind and gets the chance.

[–] g-bone (562) 6 years ago

Painbow is correct.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

Wrong

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

You tell him.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

It's actually hilarious how you over complicate things, just like a woman would. Gary is crazy, he's seen the creatures, those are his drawings, crazy people who get infected by the monsters want other people to see the monsters. Those are all clues and facts, which the movie clearly shows, that support my theory. Nothing in the movie shows any indication that your theory is correct while mine has evidence abound. Keep overthinking everything though you insufferable twat.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

LOL, there are creams for that butthurt, you know.

I have enjoyed turning you into my bitch.

I advise that you watch the film again. Maybe with a grown up who can help you grasp things that you apparently find over complicated. His eyes change because its the FIRST time he's looked. Idiot. It's right there.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

I advise you to stick to simple movies like Pixar films. But then again you'd probably come up with some retarded theories for those movies like an autistic Alex Jones. Keep snacking on those paint chips you wooden toothed limey.

America wins again.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

It's cool. I get it that you're one of those women that can't handle being proven wrong and has to get the last word in. Just let it go mam.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 6 years ago

lmao there you are again just like clock work. Nothing more embarrassing than a woman scorn who just cant admit she's wrong. I hope you can turn your life around, miss.

[–] Painbow (156) 6 years ago

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[–] lovinthis12001 (20) 6 years ago

His eyes didn't really change like theirs did but I think he was immune.

[–] PussyMonster (294) 6 years ago

It’s definitely what they look like. They resemble Lovecraftian entities who have similar abilities.

[–] Jehosaphet (1063) 6 years ago

Yeah these creatures are wholly subjective in appearance, which, IMO, makes it near impossible to show them to the audience. The kind of imagery that'd inspire someone to take their own life...how could you even start to describe something like that, let alone show it, you know? And being wholly subjective in appearance suggests a lack of physicality itself, doesn't it? Suggesting more of an impression...of sorts.

But that's one thing I was confused about too. On the way to the store, their car gets roughed up some by one of these...entities, remember? Gets shaken about some...they're all freaking out. It seemed like a pretty evident display of some substantial strength.

And then you've got people walking around in blindfolds...almost completely helpless without their eyesight, and these supposedly 'physical' beings trying every trick in the book to convince them to take off their blindfolds. Rather than just giving them a good old-fashioned murdering, I mean. Why?
Like there's something in the demon handbook about "fair play" or something...just kind of weird.

Yeah except for that car incident, I'd say these "creatures" were more...spiritual. Or more like 'essences'...or something. The car scene throws a big ol wrench in it though.

[–] Ripkens25 (2014) 6 years ago

It's interesting....because if the "creatures" wished physical ill will on people.....then it would be quite easy to pick them off, because they can't see. Example, Malorie is virtually helpless, blindfolded on that river. Also, when she's walking through the woods with her kids. And it seems the creatures DO seem to wish ill will on people, per all the suicides. So, if they do wish harm on people....and they're physical beings, why don't they "attack" helpless people physically?

And then there's this: At least once, maybe twice....it seemed like the "experience" between entity and victim was "personal", and tailored to that individual victim. Example...the wife of John Malkovich's character looked at the entity and envisioned her mother. Plus, (if memory serves) when Malorie is looking for the kids in the woods, there are voices (which mimic her kids?) The writers don't do much to expound on that premise.

The writing is either really sloppy....or really clever. Clever, because sometimes ambiguity and our own imaginations are a better story than being spoon-fed.

[–] lovinthis12001 (20) 6 years ago

In the woods Malorie was hearing her sister's and Tom's voice.

[–] jackspicer (4) 6 years ago

"I didn't read the book, so maybe there's more of an implication that they are indeed physical beings creating this mayhem."

Correct, in the book, they are physical. It's not just an implication. They do physical things.

In the movie, it seems they are not physical.

You can't use book lore to explain away any problems in this movie. They are too different.