This movie was not bad. It's not Oscar material, but it's watchable. It's like one critic ripped it, then others followed suit trying to one-up each other to see who could rip it harder. It's on Hulu for free so just watch it. After I watched it I read an LA Times article about how it was made which makes me appreciate it a little more.
289 Reviews
it is not as bad as people tell you it is
sofiaboneva21 December 2020
Honestly, I get that people are angry that this movie feeds into the fear narrative of our current situation but I actually think it is not supposed to scare you but show you that things can be waaayyy worse. I liked the fact that they focus on several people's lives and thus, several aspects of this apocalyptic word. This gives an overview of what the creators of the movie imagined the world could look like. I agree that some parts of the script are kinda dumb, but overall I believe it deserves more than its imdb score and most of the reviews here.
are they serious?
bakaeunji11 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I have no idea why they thought this would be a good idea to green light... it looks so cheap and rushed, 80% of the scenes are on FaceTime or him riding a bike. They're definitely just trying to make bank on the fact we're in a pandemic and they can push the fear narrative. The villain had no real motive, there was no tension at all, and all the characters were dumb.
We never get to see these "quarantine camps", never got to see the progression of the virus, and never saw anything that was truly scary or fear inducing in the slightest.
Give this one a very big miss.
An absolutely dull and cheap film trying to bank on the current times and failing just about every step of the way.
tresm8711 December 2020
When this was announced it had Michael Bay's name attached as producer and was supposedly going to be a pandemic thriller. Now I know many people have a disdain for Michael Bay, but I actually think that he brings some visual prowess to his projects however it's clear that his name was only attached for recognition purposes. This is neither anything visually bombastic or anything close to being a pulse pounding thriller. It's a very amateur romantic drama that focuses more on the interpersonal communication between characters as they struggle through the changing times. It becomes increasingly dragging and you just keep asking yourself what the real intent of the overall film really is. Some of the actors are seasoned veterans but are truly underutilized for new or younger actors that are frankly not on par. The production value is that of a cancelled TV series on the big networks as well. Overall this is just a very big failure and definitely not what I was expecting.
Writers are just lazy now
ericaharris190812 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
What could have been a heartbreaking, interesting, action packed dystopian movie with a real back drop of the covid virus, instead it turns out to be a boring romance with just a little science in the background. I knew this was a stinker when I didn't care one iota when the grandmother died. The plot could have been more interesting if Sara would have been taken to a q zone and and then Nico could team up with rebels to break her out. Another thing is it is supposed to be a broken down society but the setting has manicured lawns, super clean streets I was thinking, "man, even though it's armageddon, gardner's, lawn people, and street cleaners, are still working." More development on the villain would have helped, his speech about thinking he is a god because he is immune was stupid as far as motivation. It was understood what nico and sara wanted. But why the villain did what he did was unclear. The side stories didn't add much to the plot either. I didn't care about the sickly little girl character. Overall this was just a waste of time and money.
I'm glad I decided to still watch it after reading bad score reviews
jannejurimaa30 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It was totally enjoyable and watchable movie. It does not focus on showing people suffer because of the virus or to show chaos caused because of the disease.
It focuses more on the love of a young couple and the message of the film is not to lose hope.
In my point of view it was positive ending and did not make me feel bad inside or too sad when watching it.
Fairly interesting premise with a mediocre execution
roel-willemsen11 December 2020
There was some potential here, and if anything, it should have allowed viewers to perfectly relate to what the characters in this movie are going through. Sadly, this movie largely falls flat.
With the Covid pandemic as its backdrop, and a dystopian near future as its setting, 'Songbird' had all the ingredients for at least a solid thriller. The movie has trouble finding its own identity however, following several different plotlines, none of which are thoroughly worked out.
The two main romantic leads, played by KJ Apa and Sofia Carson, get the majority of the screen time, and their arc is the one that's arguably best worked out. However, their story feels bland, and very derivative of a load of other doomed romance stories. The two bad guys, Peter Stormare and Bradley Whitford, are uninspired and boring, with neither getting to do anything particularly memorable. Add some other one-off characters played by Demi Moore, Craig Robinson and Alexandra Daddario, and you have a reasonably talented cast who are not given that much to work with.
The movie's plot furthermore would have allowed the filmmaker to add some biting social critiques and maybe even some satire, but this is nowhere to be seen. The movie is a basic romance on one end, and a bland action thriller on the other. Really, aside from being a quarantine movie coming out during a quarantine, there isn't that much special about this movie.
Furthermore, I have to mention my dislike of the movie's camerawork and editing. The shaky-cam aesthetic and rapid editing can work very well for certain movies, but it feels totally superfluous and unnecessary here.
Overall, the actors' performances were solid enough, but the story and execution lacked in quality.
With the Covid pandemic as its backdrop, and a dystopian near future as its setting, 'Songbird' had all the ingredients for at least a solid thriller. The movie has trouble finding its own identity however, following several different plotlines, none of which are thoroughly worked out.
The two main romantic leads, played by KJ Apa and Sofia Carson, get the majority of the screen time, and their arc is the one that's arguably best worked out. However, their story feels bland, and very derivative of a load of other doomed romance stories. The two bad guys, Peter Stormare and Bradley Whitford, are uninspired and boring, with neither getting to do anything particularly memorable. Add some other one-off characters played by Demi Moore, Craig Robinson and Alexandra Daddario, and you have a reasonably talented cast who are not given that much to work with.
The movie's plot furthermore would have allowed the filmmaker to add some biting social critiques and maybe even some satire, but this is nowhere to be seen. The movie is a basic romance on one end, and a bland action thriller on the other. Really, aside from being a quarantine movie coming out during a quarantine, there isn't that much special about this movie.
Furthermore, I have to mention my dislike of the movie's camerawork and editing. The shaky-cam aesthetic and rapid editing can work very well for certain movies, but it feels totally superfluous and unnecessary here.
Overall, the actors' performances were solid enough, but the story and execution lacked in quality.
I dont understand so many bad reviews
martynbrunskill8 January 2021
Yes this film is pretty simple, but I didnt think it was too bad, I was tempted to give it a 10 to help it average up to a better score. I have seen far worse and I quite enjoyed it, its not a 10 for sure but its a nice easy watch.
I think people have given it such bad reviews it seems as they think its 'exploiting the pandemic', so should all war films be banned etc ? Thats just stupid, the backdrop of covid just makes the film relatable to life right now.
At the very least, social distance from this film....
PerryAtTheMovies13 December 2020
Initial Thoughts:
Minus the whole zombie apocalypse aspect. I thought this film would be much more similar to the outbreak, and subsequent emptiness that was found in "I Am Legend". Anyways....
While the trailer hinted at a decent story. I was filled with skepticism going into this film. Based off both the trailer, and the description, this film falls way short of its intent. While classified as a comedy, drama, and romance, I felt very little to no emotion within each of those categories. Nothing stood out as funny. There was very little drama to be had. Hearing there were "Q-zones", and people trying to fight back, I assumed there would be riots and intense action to show how tired people were for being oppressed and contained of the virus. There was none of that. Lastly, the romance was sub-par. There was no spark, no emotion that made me feel the leads were truly in love, or had any connection that would've brought them together. The most engaging sub-story was the one with a military veteran trying to help an internet personality escape her oppressor, and I felt that story was stronger than the main one.
Overall: The film was slow, emotionless, and a waste of time. Honestly, wait for it to come out on a streaming service. No amount of screen or sound is going to make the film any better than it already isn't.
Enjoy the show!
While the trailer hinted at a decent story. I was filled with skepticism going into this film. Based off both the trailer, and the description, this film falls way short of its intent. While classified as a comedy, drama, and romance, I felt very little to no emotion within each of those categories. Nothing stood out as funny. There was very little drama to be had. Hearing there were "Q-zones", and people trying to fight back, I assumed there would be riots and intense action to show how tired people were for being oppressed and contained of the virus. There was none of that. Lastly, the romance was sub-par. There was no spark, no emotion that made me feel the leads were truly in love, or had any connection that would've brought them together. The most engaging sub-story was the one with a military veteran trying to help an internet personality escape her oppressor, and I felt that story was stronger than the main one.
Overall: The film was slow, emotionless, and a waste of time. Honestly, wait for it to come out on a streaming service. No amount of screen or sound is going to make the film any better than it already isn't.
Enjoy the show!
Really don't understand the bad reviews
leodallasanta7 January 2021
Entertaining!
fortunefox22 April 2021
Ok so it's not Oscar material but that being said it was really good! It was thrilling and it kept my attention. In this age of Covid this movie is a must see. I'm glad I didn't listen to the reviews. I also liked the love story plot...and the character relationships that show how the virus can either bring people together or tear them apart. It can bring out the best in some people or the worst.
Refund Please
jnunlist-3491513 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Save your time and money...
I was interested to see how they showed the pandemic and the surveillance measures being put into place. I would have liked to see how dystopian it could be.
Instead, I got a garbage, predictable movie with VERY CRINGEY dialogue between the two main characters. None of the character arcs were developed. I couldn't care less about any of them. None of the interactions made sense. The "immunity bands" didn't really even play a role. For instance, when she was transported to the Q zone, they didn't realize she never had it on? Why would they arrest her if she had one on already, now after she's out of the van they see she has one?
There's no politics in this movie, it really could be made with any underlying crisis in the background. People who used their reviews to make political rants need to stop drinking the kool aid. It's a bad movie, that's it. It's not bad because I don't like the non-existing political message. It's bad because it's bad.
I was interested to see how they showed the pandemic and the surveillance measures being put into place. I would have liked to see how dystopian it could be.
Instead, I got a garbage, predictable movie with VERY CRINGEY dialogue between the two main characters. None of the character arcs were developed. I couldn't care less about any of them. None of the interactions made sense. The "immunity bands" didn't really even play a role. For instance, when she was transported to the Q zone, they didn't realize she never had it on? Why would they arrest her if she had one on already, now after she's out of the van they see she has one?
There's no politics in this movie, it really could be made with any underlying crisis in the background. People who used their reviews to make political rants need to stop drinking the kool aid. It's a bad movie, that's it. It's not bad because I don't like the non-existing political message. It's bad because it's bad.
Surprisingly Good Watch! Ratings Didn't Do Justice
eastercoaster23 January 2021
The trailer was interesting. I postponed watching this for two days thinking it will be depressing to watch but finally I watched it and I really liked it. There was attention to detail. Actors did a good job. Production and cinematography is as good as any A movie. There are somethings that were shown in the movie that are actually unfolding as reality now. I liked it so much that I am recommending my family and friends to watch it too.
Waste of a concept.
marineprincess13 December 2020
I was very excited to watch this film it was produced by Michael Bay so I was expecting it to be well done.
I was very wrong. What a perfect opportunity to make a truly creative film about a real pandemic and they blew it on a stupid love story that nobody gives a flying fig about. Awful. This should have been a blockbuster thriller and they blew it on a love story that wasn't even good. They had a perfect story for an adventure and they ruined it.
I'm so disappointed. It's just a sad romance. Not a thriller not even dramatic. It was a thrown together disaster.
Stunningly awful
aas-0278412 December 2020
Quite possibly the worst movie I've seen in 42 years of my existence. The plot was great in today's environment and the acting and filming was less than zero. It's not possible to tell you how boring and distracting this movie is except for the hope that it might improve on the prior scenes. Acting zero filming zero disappointment in infinite. Truly a masterpiece of garbage cinema taking advantage of a concept. I am ward at no points and I'm now stupider for having seen that movie. May God have mercy on the producers soul.
Not the greatest but in its way quietly powerful
johndgowrie15 January 2021
This film isn't the best but given the subject it tackles it with calm detachment as we all have lost or know someone how has lost someone to the virus we don't need to be told what it's about and this movie lets the watcher fill in the gaps with there own experiences. The acting is not over the top in fact it's if anything understated but in a good way. I don't buy DVDs any more but I will be making an exception for this movie
Soap opera
teutonfirst11 December 2020
It's a love story in times of quarantine, with little to no action, a couple that in all their three conversations on camera was about "the safety of their daughter", an don Juan trying to make more money but his actions does the opposite of doing the job, an annoying Demi Moore in a character with a weird sense of morality and, again, a good performance of Peter Stormare. If the movie tried to send a message, it just went past me.
Unjustifiaby underrated!
natanzel14 December 2020
Too close to home
AziziOthmanMY13 December 2020
Really clever little film
crazy_shane8 May 2021
I know it's obviously not rating too high but I found it very gripping. Plot was a little underwhelming but you have to think logically it wouldn't have been safe to have too many people on set at the same time and I think it was more of a romance drama than a thriller because we're living through COVID right now.
Disappointing, dull, and interesting premise turned horribly wrong.
cruise0112 December 2020
2 out of 5 stars.
Songbird is a sci fi thriller based on the real world covid epidemic. Taking place in 2023 with covid 23 mutated into a lethal virus that is more airborne than ever. And the cities are on a strict lockdown with military authorized to shoot if caught outside your home. Nico (K.J. Apa) is a bike courier. Who delivers packages. When his girlfriend Sara (Sofia Carson) who is quarantined in there apartment may be infected. A sanitization crew is called in to sweep and take her to an infected zone. Nice who is immune. He is willing to do whatever it takes to save her.
The plot does leave a lot of holes open. It has characters who are selling immunity bracelets. A young woman who invites man to her hotel room for sex while trying to keep there face masks on. A veteran who uses his drone to check the city. All these characters are uninteresting. The script is terrible in executing in making these characters stand out.
The direction is terrible. The cinematography is all over the place with weird camera angles and quick and shaky cuts. The story goes completely nowhere in the end.
The cast is great. K.J. Apa. Sofia Carson. Demi Moore. Alexandria Daddario. And Peter Stormare were all completely wasted playing characters that are forgettable. The script did not give them anything to work with besides giving them tedious characters.
The movie lacked thrills when it tries to be. But showing Nico riding his motorcycle all over Los Angeles from one warehouse to another. Which lacks the excitement.
Songbird is definitely one of those films that is best to skip to a streaming service or skip it all together. It was just terrible.
Songbird is a sci fi thriller based on the real world covid epidemic. Taking place in 2023 with covid 23 mutated into a lethal virus that is more airborne than ever. And the cities are on a strict lockdown with military authorized to shoot if caught outside your home. Nico (K.J. Apa) is a bike courier. Who delivers packages. When his girlfriend Sara (Sofia Carson) who is quarantined in there apartment may be infected. A sanitization crew is called in to sweep and take her to an infected zone. Nice who is immune. He is willing to do whatever it takes to save her.
The plot does leave a lot of holes open. It has characters who are selling immunity bracelets. A young woman who invites man to her hotel room for sex while trying to keep there face masks on. A veteran who uses his drone to check the city. All these characters are uninteresting. The script is terrible in executing in making these characters stand out.
The direction is terrible. The cinematography is all over the place with weird camera angles and quick and shaky cuts. The story goes completely nowhere in the end.
The cast is great. K.J. Apa. Sofia Carson. Demi Moore. Alexandria Daddario. And Peter Stormare were all completely wasted playing characters that are forgettable. The script did not give them anything to work with besides giving them tedious characters.
The movie lacked thrills when it tries to be. But showing Nico riding his motorcycle all over Los Angeles from one warehouse to another. Which lacks the excitement.
Songbird is definitely one of those films that is best to skip to a streaming service or skip it all together. It was just terrible.
As confusing as a pandemic movie is supposed to be
Xavier_Stone11 December 2020
The premise is post pandemic for months and everyone is supposed to be smart with regards to lock downs and how to get around them. But somehow some of the characters are just plain dumb. I expected much more from the producer Micheal Bay, but he's one of 17 producers so I guess he didn't have much say. Written and directed by Adam Mason who has no real movie experience besides B movies and this is almost a guaranteed failure before the first casting.
On a good note, Demi Moore plays a believable housewife, everyone else just stumbles through every scene frustrating the audience.
Munies are people who are immune to the virus, but it seems that they have limited intelligence to go along with it. It becomes predictable at the midpoint and this is billed as a thriller which is laughable and the final scene makes zero sense.
On a good note, Demi Moore plays a believable housewife, everyone else just stumbles through every scene frustrating the audience.
Munies are people who are immune to the virus, but it seems that they have limited intelligence to go along with it. It becomes predictable at the midpoint and this is billed as a thriller which is laughable and the final scene makes zero sense.
Bottom of the Barrel, Come Way Down Here and Meet Songbird
leftbanker-114 December 2020
I had to fast-forward through the trailer, not a good omen. If the 2m48s trailer seems too long, the movie is like spending a lifetime in lock-down.
You have to wonder how many scripts about the pandemic inundated Hollywood when all of this broke loose in early 2020. A million? Ten million scripts? And this won? Maybe it was a ten million way tie for last place? This had enough of a budget so that you can't blame lack of money for how bad it is.
Just believe the IMDb rating on this one and go outside and play...wearing a mask, of course.
You have to wonder how many scripts about the pandemic inundated Hollywood when all of this broke loose in early 2020. A million? Ten million scripts? And this won? Maybe it was a ten million way tie for last place? This had enough of a budget so that you can't blame lack of money for how bad it is.
Just believe the IMDb rating on this one and go outside and play...wearing a mask, of course.
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