Blindness

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 3, 2008

DVD Release Date: February 10, 2009

Plot 411: An epidemic of blindness hits a city and when the government quarantines the infected people all hell breaks loose.

Review: This was an eye-opening movie because it really made you realize how valuable your sight is. When their sight was taken away, the group of quarantined people really got chaotic. Despite having one person (Julianne Moore) with sight who tried to keep order while hiding her ability, the community really degenerated into a downward spiral. It's as if people regressed to their wilder, more animalistic natures. Maybe that's our true nature and our sophistication and order are merely a good cover? The fear of the unknown is a really powerful motivator and can change the way any sane person would act. Self-preservation instincts are still wired to human instinct no matter how civilized we appear. Another interesting thing is that the people in this movie are anonymous. We don't know anyone's name. We only know their occupation, like the doctor (Mark Ruffalo), as if because they're blind they don't have an identity anymore. We never find out the cause of the epidemic, which I think is a good way to end the film. It leaves the door open to the idea that this is possible and makes you ponder how you would react if a similar situation would occur.

Watch It: For an intriguing look at human nature.

Skip It: If psychological dramas bore you.

Trailer: