Bird Box, the 2018 Netflix thriller directed by Susanne Bier, is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman. The film follows a woman named Malorie (played by Sandra Bullock) as she tries to survive and protect her children from supernatural entities that cause people who see them to die by suicide.
While Bird Box closely follows the main plot points of the novel, one notable scene from the book did not make it into the final film.
The Rapids Scene
In the novel Bird Box, there is a scene where Malorie and the other survivors attempt to travel down a river in makeshift rafts, facing dangerous rapids along the way. This scene comes approximately halfway through the book, shortly after a woman named Olympia joins Malorie’s group.
As they travel down the river, the water gets increasingly treacherous. The survivors soon realize they have no choice but to go through a set of rapids to continue their journey. The violent rapids thrash the rafts, threatening to destroy them and plunging the survivors into the dangerous waters.
Malorie narrates her fear throughout the intense scene as she worries about losing her unborn children. Several characters get injured amidst the chaos, including Olympia, who hits her head on rocks and suffers severe damage. Though injured, all the survivors make it through the rapids alive and regroup once they reach calmer waters.
This suspenseful scene demonstrates the risks the characters are willing to take to find safety. It provides action and excitement at a critical point in the plot when Malorie is still pregnant and vulnerable. The scene highlights the courage required for Malorie to make this journey under such dire circumstances.
Why the Scene Was Cut
For the film adaptation of Bird Box, director Susanne Bier and screenwriter Eric Heisserer made the decision to cut the rapids scene entirely. In interviews, they explained that they felt the scene did not fit the tone and flow of the movie.
Heisserer noted that the sequence felt redundant, as the film already included river travel and several other intense action scenes. Bier agreed, saying the scene felt “out of sync” with the rest of her vision for the film and that it “interrupted” the pacing.
The filmmakers worried the rapids scene would feel like an unnecessary action set piece inserted just for more thrills. Instead, they chose to focus on the emotion of Malorie’s journey rather than adrenaline-fueled sequences.
Ultimately, they decided the story held together fine without the scene and that removing it improved the overall viewing experience. While exciting in the book, on film the rapids scene may have felt redundant or gratuitous.
Differences Between Book and Film
Beyond the removal of the rapids scene, there are some other key differences between the Bird Box novel and Netflix adaptation:
- The timeline is condensed in the film. Events take place over a few weeks rather than years.
- Characters like Douglas and Lucy are combined or removed.
- The survivors do not have a dog companion like they do in the book.
- The entity causing the madness is kept more mysterious in the film.
While the core story remains, much was simplified or streamlined to create a tighter narrative for the movie. Ultimately the film takes the most crucial elements from the novel and crafts a focused survival thriller.
The Importance of the Scene in the Book
Despite being cut from the movie, the rapids scene remains an important part of Malorie’s journey in Josh Malerman’s Bird Box novel. Here is an analysis of why this scene matters:
It shows Malorie’s bravery and tenacity
The rapids represent the first major physical challenge faced by the pregnant Malorie. Her courage in confronting the dangerous waters demonstrates her fierce will to survive at all costs.
It bonds the group together
Facing the treacherous rapids requires teamwork, community, and sacrifice from the survivors. They must work together to have any hope of staying alive.
It puts Malorie’s pregnancy at risk
The most valuable thing Malorie has in this post-apocalyptic world is her unborn children. The rapids threaten the lives growing inside her, raising the stakes significantly.
It shows the risks characters take for the greater good
The choice to go through the rapids may seem foolish, but it represents the sacrifices needed to find a better life. The characters risk their safety for the possibility of something greater.
It provides an action set piece to break up the tension
The novel relies heavily on quiet, tense moments. The rapids offer a gripping action sequence that provides excitement and a change of pace.
While the scene ultimately wasn’t necessary for the film, it’s an impactful test for Malorie in the novel that carries both symbolic and narrative weight. It’s a meaningful hurdle in her grueling quest for sanctuary.
Analysis of Bird Box Themes and Messaging
Whether enjoying the book or the Netflix adaptation, Bird Box contains powerful themes and messaging that resonate with audiences. Here is an analysis of some of the core themes:
The instinct to survive
As Malorie and other characters face death at every turn, their primal drive to survive emerges. The story highlights how people will do almost anything to live another day when confronted with extinction.
The importance of community
Forming connections with others provides the characters strength and reason to keep fighting. Working together despite differences also becomes crucial, as lone individuals have little hope.
The blindness caused by fear
The entities in Bird Box cause suicide by revealing people’s greatest fears. The story suggests that focusing on fear can be dangerously blinding when trying to navigate life’s challenges.
The sacrifices of motherhood
Through Malorie’s pregnancy and difficult journey with her children, the story explores the immense sacrifices mothers make to protect their kids.
The unpredictability of life
The characters face unexpected challenges at every turn. The story conveys how little control people have in the face of cosmic chaos.
While filled with harrowing sequences, Bird Box ultimately carries themes of hope, community, and the power of the human spirit in overcoming life’s random obstacles.
Character Analysis: Malorie
As the protagonist of Bird Box, Malorie experiences significant character development over the course of the story. Here is an analysis of her journey:
Pragmatic and survival-focused
Malorie is practical and skeptical of others. She focuses intensely on survival, distrusting emotions and connections. She prizes independence.
Isolated yet yearning for community
Malorie avoids groups and keeps people at a distance. Yet it becomes clear she yearns for community and human connection amidst her harsh exterior.
Willing to take risks for the greater good
Despite her calculated survival instincts, Malorie takes big risks to protect others. She finds courage in motherhood.
Transformed by love for her children
Motherhood sparks Malorie’s greatest change. Her drive to save her children leads her to become more selfless and vulnerable.
Retains her strength and independence
Even after embracing community and love, Malorie retains her fierce resilience and protective instincts. She does not lose her core identity.
Malorie is a compelling, nuanced character forged by trauma but transformed by hope. Her emotional journey provides the heart of the narrative.
Analysis of the Book’s Ending
Both the novel and film end on an ambiguous but hopeful note. Here is an analysis of the conclusion to Bird Box:
Malorie arrives at a sanctuary but faces uncertainty
Though Malorie finds a community safe from the entities, it remains unclear whether long-term security exists anywhere.
The children represent hope
Naming the children Girl and Boy, Malorie prepares to enter a new chapter full of possibility, with babies devoid of past trauma.
Malorie compromises independence for safety
By arriving at a populated sanctuary, Malorie gives up her autonomy. But the hope of building a life for her children makes it worthwhile.
The entities remain mysterious and loose
The story offers no definitive explanations about the entities, their origins, or whether they can ever be stopped.
The future remains uncertain
With the entities still out there, it is unclear whether Malorie will ever truly be safe from the unseen threat.
The ending leaves much unresolved, suggesting the characters’ struggles may continue indefinitely. Yet Malorie’s fierce love and protection of her children provide a note of hope after so much darkness.
Comparison to A Quiet Place
Bird Box is often compared to another post-apocalyptic thriller about mysterious creatures: A Quiet Place. Here is how the two films compare:
Basic Plot
| Bird Box | A Quiet Place |
|---|---|
| An unseen force causes people to die by suicide if they look at it. A woman tries to protect her children while blindfolded as they seek safety. | Creatures with hypersensitive hearing hunt humans, who must live in silence to survive. A family tries to protect their children while scavenging supplies. |
Tone and Theme
| Bird Box | A Quiet Place |
|---|---|
| Dark, bleak, focuses on survival | Tense, emotional, focuses on family |
Creature Design
| Bird Box | A Quiet Place |
|---|---|
| Entities never shown, kept mysterious | Reveals detailed creature design |
While both high-concept thrillers, Bird Box and A Quiet Place differ significantly in their execution. Bird Box is more psychological and allegorical, while A Quiet Place relies on traditional horror elements. Both films deliver suspenseful stories about parental protection that resonated with audiences.
Impact and Legacy
Released in 2018, Bird Box proved massively popular with Netflix subscribers. It sparked viral memes, created high anticipation, and drove record viewership for the streaming platform. Here is an analysis of its key impact:
Massive viewership on Netflix
Within a week, over 45 million Netflix accounts had streamed Bird Box setting a new record for the highest 7-day viewership.
Inspired viral Bird Box challenge
People on social media started attempting everyday tasks while blindfolded like the characters. This dangerous viral challenge led Netflix to issue a warning.
Entered the cultural zeitgeist
Bird Box spawned endless memes, parodies, and references on social media and in pop culture, thanks to its striking imagery.
Boosted Netflix’s subscriber growth
The film’s buzz provided a high-profile exclusive tentpole for Netflix. It likely helped attract new subscribers to the streaming platform.
Proved the power of high-concept horror
With its simple but gripping premise, Bird Box showed the popularity of contained horror films that spark the imagination.
Thanks to its timing and viral spread, Bird Box had a monumental impact on the entertainment landscape. It will be remembered as a defining Netflix hit that demonstrated the streaming platform’s global reach and influence.
Critical Reception
While Bird Box attracted a huge audience on Netflix, critics had a more mixed response. Here is a summary of the critical reception:
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 63%
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Bird Box earned a 63% Tomatometer score based on 152 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. This suggests somewhat mixed opinions from professional critics.
Praise for originality and visuals
Critics praised Bird Box for its intriguing premise and Sandra Bullock’s committed performance. Many felt it created strong tension and suspense through excellent cinematography and production design.
Criticism for lack of character development
A common criticism was that the characters lacked depth and development. Some felt the film prioritized mystery and action sequences over emotional impact.
Critiques of the ending
The ambiguous, open-ended conclusion frustrated some critics, who felt it undermined the film’s buildup. Some wanted more explanation and resolution.
Overall the reviews indicate Bird Box worked extremely well as a viral sensation and high-concept thriller, even if it did not entirely deliver in terms of character, emotion, and narrative closure.
Conclusion
With its intense set pieces and provocative premise, Bird Box proved an ideal viral hit for the Netflix age. Removing the rapids scene likely improved its flow and watchability as a contained thriller. Yet the scene provides a memorable passage in Josh Malerman’s novel, showcasing Malorie’s tenacity. While not universally acclaimed by critics, Bird Box had undeniable cultural impact, bringing horror fans together and inspiring endlessdiscussion about its meaning and legacy. The story will continue to be rediscovered and analyzed for years to come.
