Beautiful decay awaits us all in 2018's sci-fi masterpiece 'Annihilation,' based upon Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 book series THE SOUTHERN REACH TRILOGY. We cover the first book of the series, along with the film in tandem with the lens of horror. Expect long divergences into biological evolution, well-written female protagonists, and personal foibles. As the Crawler says, "The shadows of the abyss are like the petals of a monstrous flower that shall blossom within the skull and expand the mind beyond what any man can bear..." Show notes are here: https://metamashina.com/2019/07/17/episode-044-beauty-in-annihilation/