Born in 1970, this filmmaker is known for his work on hits like 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Ex Machina, and Annihilation. Alex Garland first made a name for himself outside the film industry with his talented writing. In 1996, he released his first novel, The Beach, which tells the story of a European backpacker who discovers a utopic community living isolated on a beachfront. In 2000, the film was adapted into a movie directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tilda Swinton. Garland followed this novel with another, titled The Tesseract, in 1998, and again this book received a film adaptation in 2003.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

After his writing success, he began constructing screenplays, starting with 28 Days Later in 2002. Following this film, he wrote the screenplays for Sunshine, Never Let Me Go, and Dredd. Garland made his directorial debut in 2014 with the film Ex Machina and followed that with the beautiful science fiction film Annihilation, which was released in 2018; and most recently Men, which was released in May of this year.

Through his past work, we can see that Garland has a passion for the science fiction genre. Coming from a background in writing, he has a wonderful talent for world-building and creating incredibly unique sci-fi dynamics. His talent does not stop with his writing; his three feature-length films are a testament to his proficiency at visual production, including beautiful set design, wardrobe, and special effects. Garland already has a great track record, and there is nothing short of brilliance that is yet to come from the acclaimed director.

Writing Expertise & World Building

     DNA Films

Whereas other genres may not rely quite heavily on storytelling, the success of a science fiction film is often predicated on it. In sci-fi, a unique story and world are paramount to the enjoyability of a film, and Garland has this element honed perfectly. When looking at the films he has written, it is almost hard to believe they are all authored by the same individual. Each story is diverse in its setting and characters, Garland doesn’t recycle ideas, but constantly builds new and refreshing stories to unfold marvelously on our screens — The genre is expansive, and Garland is taking advantage of that.

Like much of the genre, many of the films he has written feel tethered to our own world. They can be seen as warnings, or at the very least, commentary on a fast-paced and ever-changing technological society. Garland’s film does a great job of combining familiar real-world experiences with the fantastical. In Sunshine, it’s the issue of a cataclysmic worldwide temperature drop because of the dying sun. Dredd depicts a world filled with a militant police state, rampant drug use, and societal unrest, not all that dissimilar to the problems we face within our own world. Garland approaches these concepts through a science fiction lens and is able to create an unparalleled and specialized cinematic experience.

Best Alex Garland Movies, Ranked

Cinematography & Set Design

     A24

When a script passes through many creative minds, it can turn out drastically different from its initial intention. With Garland at the helm of both the writing and directing of a project, this effect is minimized and allows for a true-to-form rendition of the source material. We see how wonderfully this worked out with Ex Machina and Annihilation. The two films are stylized quite differently, but both are distinct recreations with unique settings and dynamics.

The set design in Ex Machina is realistic and authentic. The location most prominently featured throughout the film was shot at the Landscape Hotel in Valldalen, Norway, which perfectly matches the aesthetic of a tech billionaire’s secluded home. Annihilation features a much more organic set design, with many of the shots taking place outside or in abandoned buildings. When compared to Dredd, the VFX in both films is subdued and takes a backseat to the natural set design and storytelling. Both films look beautiful, and there is much more to come from the talented director.

These Are the Best Oscar Isaac Movies, Ranked

Upcoming projects

     Paramount Pictures

Alex Garland’s upcoming film is called Civil War, which he both wrote and directed. The film stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny. There is not much information on the storyline of the film; it is a war movie that takes place in the near future, with its filming being captured in the Atlanta area. In an interview, he calls the upcoming feature “pure surrealism” and details a filming location that he was drawn to in which there is a field of abandoned Christmas decorations scattered about. However, as information about the plot starts to release, the film sounds like it is certain to be a hit.