Vivarium is a waste of time. The plot centers around a cycle of torment, and this particular cycle isn't understood as such until late in the movie. In this particular movie, the protagonist succumbs to the cycle, dying. This is not normally an issue, however, because when the protagonist succumbs, we usually are brought to feel catharsis, whether for the antagonist's victory or the protagonist's defeat. In Vivarium, we do not feel anything for Gemma when she dies and we feel nothing for the boy when he takes over Martin's place.
We simply don't care. This is because (1) we don't explicitly know it's a cycle until late into the story, (2) the protagonist succumbs to the cycle early on (within two days, no less) by willingly raising the boy, and (3) it's clear that our protagonist has done everything just like others in her predicament. Point 3 needs some explanation. We see a woman crying, succumbing to her predicament just like Gemma did; we see a couple having sex, which is just a distraction and is exactly what Gemma and Tom did; and we see a man having committed suicide, which is arguably what Tom did by ignoring his deteriorating health digging all day and night.
By the end of the movie, any growth Gemma had is completely pointless by her death. Her cussing out of the boy are just empty words, exasperated when he responds with "Whatever." There's no room for pity.
On top of that, we don't feel good about the boy's victory either. We simply don't understand him enough to care that he won. Moreover, we can't feel pity for the other people trapped like Gemma because we know nothing about them. We didn't see them long enough.
Perhaps this would have been better had Gemma stumbled upon the other people sooner, or if we were shown them sooner. Or if either Gemma or Tom used any of the tools to explore the area. Or tried going into one of the other homes to find anywhere else to sleep. Or something. But they both quickly submit to their captors and we're left not caring about what happens to these characters.
Film A Waste of Time
Vivarium is a waste of time. The plot centers around a cycle of torment, and this particular cycle isn't understood as such until late in the movie. In this particular movie, the protagonist succumbs to the cycle, dying. This is not normally an issue, however, because when the protagonist succumbs, we usually are brought to feel catharsis, whether for the antagonist's victory or the protagonist's defeat. In Vivarium, we do not feel anything for Gemma when she dies and we feel nothing for the boy when he takes over Martin's place.
We simply don't care. This is because (1) we don't explicitly know it's a cycle until late into the story, (2) the protagonist succumbs to the cycle early on (within two days, no less) by willingly raising the boy, and (3) it's clear that our protagonist has done everything just like others in her predicament. Point 3 needs some explanation. We see a woman crying, succumbing to her predicament just like Gemma did; we see a couple having sex, which is just a distraction and is exactly what Gemma and Tom did; and we see a man having committed suicide, which is arguably what Tom did by ignoring his deteriorating health digging all day and night.
By the end of the movie, any growth Gemma had is completely pointless by her death. Her cussing out of the boy are just empty words, exasperated when he responds with "Whatever." There's no room for pity.
On top of that, we don't feel good about the boy's victory either. We simply don't understand him enough to care that he won. Moreover, we can't feel pity for the other people trapped like Gemma because we know nothing about them. We didn't see them long enough.
Perhaps this would have been better had Gemma stumbled upon the other people sooner, or if we were shown them sooner. Or if either Gemma or Tom used any of the tools to explore the area. Or tried going into one of the other homes to find anywhere else to sleep. Or something. But they both quickly submit to their captors and we're left not caring about what happens to these characters.
It's just a waste of time...