Sally Field shines in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures. A heartwarming tale of grief, lost family, and the wisdom of the deep sea.
Netflix’s adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures is a refreshing, feel-good movie that reminds us of the quiet beauty in everyday life.
Sally Field is the heart of the film as Tova Sullivan. It’s no surprise that Field is brilliant, but here, she brings a certain grace to the role of an elderly widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova finds solace in the repetitive motion of cleaning floors and polishing glass, a routine that keeps the ghosts of her past at bay. Her performance is beautifully complemented by Lewis Pullman, who plays Cameron with a messy, charming energy that immediately puts her on her toes.
The true standout, however, is Marcellus. Translating a narrating octopus to the screen was a risky move, but the visual effects team absolutely nailed it. The photo-realism is stunning. The way the light hits his skin and the fluid, weighted movement of his tentacles makes him feel entirely present in the room with Tova.
By honoring the sentience of sea creatures with such technical care, the film elevates itself from a standard cozy drama to something more profound. Beyond the visuals, Marcellus is surprisingly funny. His dry, slightly arrogant commentary on the clumsy humans around him provides a sharp wit that keeps the story from becoming too sentimental. His escape artist antics and grumpy observations offer moments of genuine levity that balance out the film’s heavier themes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is also about honoring our elders and recognizing the agency of people like Tova, who are often overlooked by society. It’s a story about finding your place in the world, drawing a parallel between a captive octopus and humans trapped by their own grief or lack of direction. Ultimately, it celebrates the fluidity of family, reminding us that our kin aren’t always those we share blood with, but those we discover in the most unlikely places.
As we move into the third act, the film hits a bit of a rough patch where the revelations manage to feel simultaneously unpredictable and as if they are coming out of left field. Without spoilers, the connections require a significant amount of movie logic to bridge, and it’s difficult to make them click without feeling like they were shoved together. However, even when the logic felt thin, the emotional resonance stayed thick. I found I didn’t mind the convenience of the ending because the message – that we are all connected in ways we cannot perceive – shone through the cracks.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is exactly the type of movie we need right now. It is a gentle, luminous story that celebrates the unlikely and asks us to look closer at the world around us. Sally Field and Lewis Pullman anchor the human element, but Marcellus is the one who will stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s a feel good movie and one that we all could use right now.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Score: 7/10
About Remarkably Bright Creatures
Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova, an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again.
Remarkably Bright Creatures comes to Netflix on May 8.
