There is something inherently calming about a story that finds magic in the mundane, and if the first teaser for Remarkably Bright Creatures is anything to go by, Netflix might just have found the cinematic equivalent of a warm blanket for the soul. Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s sensationally popular novel, the film appears to be leaning heavily into the quiet, poignant charm that made the book such a word-of-mouth hit. While I have not yet had the pleasure of a full screening, the brief glimpse offered by this new trailer suggests a production that understands the delicate balance between human grief and the whimsy of the natural world.
At the heart of the story is Tova, played by the incomparable Sally Field. Seeing Field back in a lead role that requires such a nuanced mixture of strength and vulnerability is always a treat for any film lover. She portrays a widow who takes a job working the night shift at an aquarium, a setting that the teaser captures with a beautifully ethereal, almost nocturnal glow. It is here that she forms an improbable bond with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Now, bringing a sentient, highly intelligent mollusc to life on screen is no small feat, but the teaser introduces us to the voice of Alfred Molina as Marcellus, and it feels like a stroke of casting genius. Molina has that perfect blend of gravitas and weary wit, providing a narration that suggests the octopus might just be the most observant character in the room.
The supporting cast looks equally impressive, suggesting a depth to the narrative that extends well beyond the glass of the aquarium tanks. Lewis Pullman, who has been on a fantastic run lately, appears as Cameron, a young man at a crossroads who finds his life intersecting with Tova’s in ways neither of them expected. The ensemble is bolstered by veteran talents like Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, and Kathy Baker, which gives me a great deal of confidence in the emotional weight of the piece. When you see names of this calibre attached to a project, it usually signals a script with real meat on its bones.
Director Olivia Newman, who previously showed her knack for adapting atmospheric, landscape-driven bestsellers with Where the Crawdads Sing, seems to be the right hand at the tiller here. The teaser suggests a film that is visually lush but grounded in the tactile reality of a small coastal town. There is a sense of mystery hinted at, a life-changing discovery that ties these characters together, but the trailer wisely keeps the specifics under wraps, focusing instead on the atmosphere of wonder and the theme of finding connection in the most unlikely of places.
As a critic, I am always a bit wary of adaptations that rely on a non-human narrator, but there is something so distinctly charming about the way this teaser presents Marcellus’s perspective on the blundering nature of humans. It feels less like a gimmick and more like a fresh lens through which to view our own struggles with loss and loneliness. If the film can maintain the heart-swelling sincerity shown in these few minutes of footage, we are in for something quite special.
Remarkably Bright Creatures premieres on Netflix 8th May, and it is certainly sitting right at the top of my must-watch list for the spring. It looks to be a film that celebrates the quiet victories of the human spirit, aided by a very clever eight-armed friend.