If you’ve stumbled into any Barnes & Noble or browsed Goodreads in the past few years, you’ve likely seen a book with an octopus on the cover called “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel began as a modest publishing success before spreading by word-of-mouth like wildfire. It has sold over two million copies in four years and garnered enough praise to get a film adaptation for Netflix. Olivia Newman directs the film, who is no stranger to directing book adaptations, as she directed “Where the Crawdads Sing.” The popularity of a novel doesn’t necessarily guarantee its success on the big screen. However, “Remarkably Bright Creatures”‘ unique story with lovable characters and surprisingly challenging themes translates well to film.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” opens with an internal monologue from an octopus named Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina). While the octopus never communicates directly with the humans in the story, his observational intelligence gives the audience a unique lens to view the main characters of the story. Marcellus says that of all the humans in the aquarium, his favorite is Tova, the cleaning lady (Sally Field). Tova was recently widowed and has isolated herself in her grief, only sharing her feelings and struggles with Marcellus as she cleans the aquarium every night. Tova tells him of her struggles with losing her son, and with her husband gone she is considering moving to a retirement community. The story takes a turn when Tova has a minor injury and needs help cleaning the aquarium.
A Story of Three Characters Searching for Healing
Cameron (Lewis Pullman) is a disheveled young man passing through town, searching for his father after his mother recently died. When his van breaks down, Cameron takes a temporary job as a cleaner at the local aquarium to pay for the repairs. However, what Cameron thinks will be a low-effort way to earn cash ends up being much more than he anticipated. Tova insists on helping Cameron see the right and the wrong way of doing things. As the two start working together, a friendship blossoms. Marcellus, the observant octopus nearing the end of his life, sees that these two cleaners have holes in their hearts from their losses and he wishes he could help them in some way.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is ultimately a story of three characters searching for a home. Marcellus, the octopus, was taken out of the Pacific Ocean and put in an aquarium after he was injured in an eel attack. He yearns to be back in the quiet of the ocean before he dies. Tova, after losing her son and her husband, is considering leaving her home after she is unable to find the truth of her son’s disappearance and has given up on her community. Cameron, after losing his mother to drugs and with his band on hiatus, is searching for a home where he can find family and purpose. Tova and Cameron are also both searching for answers. Tova wants to know what happened to her son and Cameron wants to know why his dad was never in his life. In Marcellus’ internal monologue he laments on how painfully obvious it is that Tova and Cameron each have the solution to the other’s heartache and yearning.
Trauma and Healing Amidst Cute Creatures
It can be hard to determine what the tone of the film is from the marketing alone. This film debuts the same week as “The Sheep Detectives,” a family-friendly story in which intelligent sheep try to solve a murder mystery. From the trailer for “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” it could be unclear to audiences what level of fantasy is involved with the octopus and how much the story would be tailored to a younger audience. However, the story limits its use of the intelligent octopus in the plot, requiring a minimal amount of suspension of disbelief in execution. The octopus serves more as a unique lens to view the other characters through. Alfred Molina’s performance in providing the voice for Marcellus was phenomenal. Molina’s casting is also quite funny, given his role as Doctor Octopus in the “Spider-Man” movies.
The story is surprisingly mature with its themes. It allows the heavier moments to carry weight, giving the audience time to sit with them alongside the characters, never deflating the emotional momentum. It doesn’t censor itself to be a shallow, feel-good family movie; it has range and depth. The relationships in the movie are very sweet, but the cuteness is contrasted by the traumatic burdens each character carries. The film asks questions involving grief and provides answers by giving characters the opportunity to relieve others of their burdens by unloading some of their own.
Alfred Molina as Marcellus is a Joy
While the movie was filmed in Vancouver, it takes place in the fictional town of Sowell Bay in the Puget Sound of Washington. The film captures the Pacific Northwest essence very well, in people and in setting. Additionally, the choice to use the aquarium in this setting is fitting, as Pacific Northwesterners have a peculiar reverence for their aquatic wildlife. Overall, the adaptation works well as a movie because it brings the heartwarming relationships to life and avoids making the challenging themes shallow and sanitized. It is delightful to see the film use the perspective of an octopus to look at the world and human relationships in such a distinct way. As Marcellus reflects at the end of the film, “Humans, for the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.“
*”Remarkably Bright Creatures” is available on Netflix.
