This is a little different than my usual post, but I have to talk about this movie I recently watched or I will combust. If you’re not a fan of unsettling horror movies or want to watch this movie yourself, this is your chance to turn back.
I’ve probably never mentioned this on the blog, but I am a fan of unsettling horror movies. I absolutely love when a movie leaves me slightly disturbed, confused, or even horrified. I randomly started this movie while I was writing and scheduling posts for my social media because I didn’t expect I’d pay much attention to it.
I was absolutely wrong.
Vivarium: Summary
A young couple are looking for a lifelong home, and they seem to be closer to their goal when they meet a persistent realtor. He takes the couple to a suburban neighborhood, where every street and house is the same. Except he disappears, and the couple cannot seem to escape the labyrinth of houses.
SPOILERS AHEAD
If you haven’t watched the movie and still want to, this is the last chance!
Okay, let’s talk about this movie. I’ll give a more in detail description for those who have never seen the movie, but still want to know everything that happens.
The movie starts with an unmarried couple (Tom and Gemma), who seem to be happy, but financially struggling. They are looking to buy a home together, and so after work they plan to go house hunting. They reach what seems like a real estate office, where one tall, pale man is smiling awkwardly behind his desk at the back of the store.
Martin, as his name tag reads, welcomes the couple in, his speech a little awkward as he explains how beautiful the new development ‘Yonder’ is. He pressures the couple to follow him in their car to the development so he could show them a house.
When they reach the development, it is an endless labyrinth of houses and roads that are identical. The couple, not wanting to make the interaction awkward, follow Martin into the house. He shows them around, ominously pointing to different rooms (including a baby’s room with blue walls) and pushing the narrative of a perfect family living in a perfect home.
The couple are rightfully creeped out, and after a quick discussion they turn back to the house to realize Martin is gone.
The couple try not think about the strange encounter as they get in their car and drive off, but something is odd. They drive, endlessly, and there is no exit in sight.
Now this is where the sci-fi stuff starts to kick in. I won’t go into detail about absolutely everything, but the couple cannot find a way out of the neighborhood. Tom even tries to burn the house, but the next morning they wake up to the house fully intact, and a box with a baby boy on the street. They are promised freedom if they raise the boy, the boy who ages at a fascinating rate, and can perfectly mimic their voices.
Tom focuses on trying to escape while Gemma takes on the role of caring for the boy, who grows into a man. Tom’s health decreases from trying and failing to escape, and Gemma must watch him die on the sidewalk. After some investigation, Gemma realizes that there are an endless number of couples who are going through the same as her, raising the boy while trapped in Yonder until their untimely deaths.
Eventually Gemma is killed by the boy, who packs her body into a body bag like he did with Tom’s , and he takes the place of Martin, who dies conveniently as the boy arrives. A new couple enters the real estate building, and the cycle begins anew.
Vivarium: The Deeper Meaning
Okay, so story wise, it’s a lot to take in. The movie does a great job of being incredibly creepy, and even if you have an inkling of what’s to happen, it still leaves you in a state of shock and confusion. So why do I find this movie so fascinating? Let’s dive into the deeper meaning.
I’ve done some reading about this movie and other people’s opinions on it, so this is a combination of my own thoughts and theories I agree with from the internet.
WHO / WHAT IS THE BOY?
It seems like ‘the boy’ isn’t actually a boy at all. Instead, he is some kind of alien mimicking a human. He does not seem to feel emotion, and grows from a child to an adult within what seems like the span of months. His purpose is to take the role of Martin, to lure couples into Yonder to keep the process of growing his kin alive. There are two moments that support the theory of the boy being an otherworldly entity.
The first instance is when Gemma is trying to urge the boy to talk about who is controlling things behind the scenes. The boy demonstrates what they sound like, his throat bubbling up and an inhuman noise coming from his mouth (which was absolutely terrifying). The second was when he was being chased by Gemma, and he scuttles under a piece of the sidewalk, like a spider (seen in the picture above).
Although we never see the boy’s true form, it’s clear he, or it, is not human. This can also be supported by the opening scene, where a cuckoo pushes the babies from a birds nest and takes their place.
PARENTHOOD
The theme of parenthood is a heavy one in this movie. As soon as Gemma and Tom arrive in Yonder, Martin brings up the concept of a ‘perfect family’ complete with a baby room ready to go.
The couple are then thrust into parenthood, forced to raise the boy until they obtain their ‘freedom’. The boy constantly comes between Tom and Gemma, ultimately destroying their relationship. This happens especially when Gemma decides to take the role of the boy’s mother, and protects him when Tom tries to starve the boy. Tom, in return, becomes desperate to escape. He digs the hole in the front yard until he is sick, and Gemma becomes his caretaker in the end.
Speaking of caretaker, there is also a theme of fatigue that comes with being a caregiver. As someone who has a brother with autism, I thought this was a fascinating take on the movie. The boy in Vivarium is physically and mentally exhausting. His mimicry and incessant screaming break Tom and Gemma’s mental strength, and the physical fatigue of taking care of the boy is also shown through the movie. It is extremely taxing taking care of someone who needs 24/7 care and attention, and this movie resonated with me on that topic.
So overall, this movie shows the darker side of parenthood (or even unplanned parenthood) and how it can drive a wedge between two individuals who may not have been ready.
What are your thoughts / theories?
I really enjoyed this movie! I gravitate toward unsettling movies, and I’ve been thinking about this one ever since I watched it. What are your thoughts? Have you seem any good movies lately? Let me know, and happy Saturday!
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