Filmmaker Alex Garland's take on Jeff VanderMeer's book — the first of an alliterative sci - fi trio known as the Southern Reach Trilogy that also includes «Authority» and «Acceptance» — is very much on the «loose» end of the adaptation spectrum, which suits the movie well: There's a lot about the novel, which is rich in
ideas but intentionally
vague about certain details, that would have been exceptionally difficult
translate to screen.