Bird Box is a post-apocalyptic film that features creatures that make you want to kill yourself after you see them. They fly around the skies tormenting people but the released film never actually revealed their appearance, although one of the creatures almost appeared on the screen.
Screenwriter Eric Heisserer revealed that he had to write about a nightmare sequence with Malorie inside the house with one of the creatures. He told Bloody Disgusting that it was per the request of one of the producers, who wanted to show the creature's appearance at some point in the film.
Sandra Bullock, who played Malorie, described the creature as "snake-like." She recalled when they shot the scene she could not help but laugh at its appearance. She described it as a "green man with a horrific baby face."
"I turn and he's like this [growling at me.]... It was just a long fat baby."
Film director Susan Bier acknowledged that they shot the nightmare scene and spent a lot of energy on it. However, the scene just did not have a tense vibe to it. Instead, it turned out funny. Bullock did not want to see the creature, not for its scary look but because it made her laugh. In the end, Bier and the producers decided against including it in the finished film. It ended up getting deleted from Bird Box.
Bier said that it would have been a wrong decision had they showed the creatures' appearance on screen. It would defeat the purpose of showing that fear takes on different forms in different people.
"I think to suddenly take upon a concrete shape to illustrate that becomes weak."
Bird Box is a Netflix adaptation of the Josh Malerman novel of the same name. It follows Malorie as she strives to keep her son and a young girl safe from the creatures. They take on a dangerous journey by boat toward a haven with their eyes blindfolded, so they do not see the creatures. The journey on the river is packed with tension and suspense as Malorie steers the boat with her ears and the chirping of the birds only as her guide.
Bird Box does a great job of keeping viewers on the edge of their seats and with their fingers crossed that Malorie and the kids stay safe. It keeps the fear running the entire length of the film and the fact that Bullock filmed at least half of the movie blindfolded adds to the tension.
