I wouldn’t usually do full reviews for movies like this, but a friend requested this one and I owe it to her 🙂 As always, this may contain spoilers so don’t read ahead if you haven’t watched it yet.
Well to start off, this film spans 4 different genres: sci-fi, horror, action and thriller. It never really succeeds as any of them, but there are enjoyable moments and some take-aways. I’ll talk about the major shortcomings further down, but let’s start with the positives. I think the cast all did a good job. The script itself is very much your average horror movie script, but it was nice to see a serious commitment from everyone in this. It is important to note it because this is the only reason I would give to someone for watching this: watch how each character ‘develops’. We are in Lord of the Flies territory within the first 5 minutes, but the mix we are given is interesting to see. Every character descends into madness and insanity, gradually getting more damaged and broken as the movie goes on; except for one. Eva is the only who goes in the other direction, the only one whose mental capacity either stagnates or increases. This is shown, rather brilliantly, by their physical portrayal on screen. As they sink further and further down, their appearance worsens or they take on bodily damage. Mickey gets his finger cut off, Adrien gets shot, Sam is splattered with blood, Marilyn degrades herself into a promiscuous sad-to-see object. Then we have Bobby and Josh, the opposite spectrum of Eva. Stepping outside the room, having to cut the body, getting Mickey to give up the code, indulging into gang rape, becoming power hungry and declaring themselves the on-site dictators…every reflects how they look, from well dressed with the slick hair cut, to dirty, half-naked and shaved heads. However, Eva goes through several trials, and always seems to keep it together, if not better afterwards; becoming more vocal, changing clothes and still looking sexy as hell, having the courage to attempt getting the gun, devising a plan and getting Sam to agree to it. She practically drives every interesting part of the movie. The only other character I felt had an unfair death/role was Melvyn. He’s a sensible, logical, medically-knowledgeable person and he is booted out fairly early, but in retrospective, the madness in which they are about to go through has no place for him. He wouldn’t allow it, so yes, he has to go first.
Unfortunately that’s about it for good things. The movie is entertaining to a certain level, but there are major flaws, the biggest one being the overall plot. There is one thing missing and it turns out to be crucial: purpose. If you’re gonna make post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, there has to be purpose. What’s in it for them to survive? Why was the girl taken and what the hell are they doing to her? Who are the people on the other side of the door? I was rather pissed that by the end, nothing outside made any sense. If the blast took out the whole of NYC, first of all who the hell has that kind of nuclear power and what’s their motivation. Not my business? Okay fine. What about the hazmat suit guys? They make ZERO contributions to the plot. There is nothing that connects them to the story. Take them out completely and the movie doesn’t change at all. The girl could die/disappear another way, and the door can be locked/blocked another way. So the writing is absolutely piss poor in that aspect. The idea was there, briefly explored and then completely ignored. So there you go, there is no purpose to what we are watching, but that’s hard to take as a viewer.
The technical stuff such as sound, editing, cinematography are all average and reflect the low budget. I don’t hold things like that against them. Make-up and costume are notably above average however, because they contribute to the psychological degradation of the characters and their mental states so having their make-up and costume reflect that, was pleasing. The supposed romance involved is non-sense, forced and not even worthy of more than a line. The conclusion is a very lazy. I understand Eva’s motivations, being the strongest one mentally, the so-called ‘fittest’, she does survive, but then again, to what end?
What would you do? How would you fare in that situation? What choices would you make? How evil would you get, or how much could you lead? If you enjoy exploring these questions pertaining to the human condition, then a one-time viewing of this movie should not bother you. Any more than that is unnecessary, as the genre has plenty of other and better options.
6/10
Michalex Jackson.
The 7th Art Adept 