Infested

Rating:
Summary: Attack of the Mutant Flies
Review: The script outrageously lifts the opening set up from " The Big Chill" until the swarm of mutant flies shows up and attacks the cast. Thats right MUTANT FLIES! The problem is that flies are not scary at all they do not have the shriek factor of spiders, scorpions or roaches. The terrible CGI effects do not help- there are a couple of effective suspense moments-but most of the action takes place in daylight which deminishes the scare factor.

Rating:
Summary: Smart, hilarious satire - A CULT CLASSIC!
Review: This is the funniest movie I've seen in years!

Writer/Director Josh Olson has made a rare kind of masterpiece: a very funny, very sardonic 'horror' movie that contains subtle and not-so-subtle commentary on contemporary American culture. This movie 'skewers' some all-too familiar young, pretentious stereotypes, literally and otherwise. (heh!)

If you're smart, you'll 'GET IT' and laugh in all the right places (which are more than I can count). If you have the IQ of the average American---or **spend $80 for a pair of torn-up jeans from Europe, you'll probably just complain about the special FX.

I won't ruin it for you, but a scene that's an homage to Alfred Hitchcock is possibly one of the most brilliant moments in cinematic history. And the terrorized couple trying to 'get a signal' on their cell phone in order to call for help is a close second.

This film is destined to become a cult classic, a "This is Spinal Tap" of the horror genre.

**see the movie

Rating:
Summary: MAKES DAYS OF OUR LIVES LOOK OSCAR WORTHY
Review: This is the worst movie ever made. The acting is the worst I have ever seen, you or I would be more convincing.

The horror scenes are pothetic and laughable and those flys are just a joke, they look like a 7th graders computer school project.

If you want horror that's scary and suspensful get any of the Friday movies or Jeepers Creepers with Gina Philips who fortunately for us can actually act. Because this movie SUUUUUUUUXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. I would rather marry Liza Menelli than watch this garbage ever again.

Peace

Rating:
Summary: well, -i- was amused.
Review: well, it's not about to win any oscars, if only because those only go to the mainstream (how boring!), but hey, it was funny. and i think, really, that that was the point. honestly, how many movies are scary enough that they don't even approach laughable? um... none i can think of... if only because laughter is what keeps things from getting too scary.

and that's what makes real horror-satire so difficult, and so wonderful when it's done right. of course, asking me to be objective about anything involving robert duncan mcneill is akin to requesting i cease breathing, but never mind that. rdm aside, the sheer irony of this piece is fantastic, as well as the casual dropping of one-liners, of both biting wit and silly understatement. in short... well... it's FUNNY.

as to the actual flies, i don't know, maybe it's some sort of metaphor. it's really inconsequential. the gore scenes are beautiful in that holy-grail-fruit-punch-blood sort of way; the only one that had me cringing was the scene in the bathroom with the razor and the fly-ridden leg. ouch, as well as yuck.

basically, if you enjoy serious drama and lack a whimsical sense of humor, go elsewhere. likewise if you take everything seriously. if you enjoy being highly amused and cheerfully poke fun at society in general, buy it.

Rating:
Summary: So-so horror-satire
Review: Zach Galligan's acting career peaked with "Gremlins" and its sequel. Since then, he's done mostly straight-to-video horror and sci-fi schlock, including getting top billing for "Infested." After viewing "Infested," I can definitely say that Zach Galligan's resume is not going to gain any more prestige from this straight-to-video horror-satire fly-zombie flick.

I've read some prior reviews of "Infested." Some people absolutely hate the movie, saying it's a horrible excuse for bad CGI work and an inane, boring plot. Other reviews see it as a great example of social satire wrapped in a silly horror movie. I fall somewhere in between.

The first half of the movie is actually fairly entertaining. After a rather amusing graveside service, a group of old college friends gather at the home of their recently deceased former friend. They hang out, talk about the good old 80's (!) and regret their choices in life. It's all very reminiscent of "The Big Chill."

To gauge the tone of "Infested," one can reference the scene in which a character proudly holds up a .45 record, saying, "Does anyone remember these?" He proceeds to play the record and, instead of a golden oldie, we're treated to "Da Da Da," the song by Trio that gained popularity by its inclusion in a Volkswagen commercial! It's a silly song, a "classic" for this group of socially-stunted individuals who pine for their former glory. Dammit, it's funny.

Of course, a movie about killer flies wouldn't be complete without the killer flies. They eventually make their appearance (after a very gratuitous breast shot of a thirtysomething woman) and the fun turns to horror--albeit for about 15 minutes of the movie.

In this 15 minutes or so, we see several nice "ewwww!" scenes, including a girl getting blood puked on her, a decapitation after a severe and squirting neck wound, a crowbar through the side and a really nasty leg infection with flies growing in it. There's also a shower scene (sadly, no nudity from cutie Amy Jo Johnson of "Felicity" and "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers") replete with a swarm of flies. The dialog is appropriately goofy, including such memorable ones as "They don't strike me as ordinary flies." Dammit, it's funny!

So there's the first half of the movie. I was fairly impressed at this point. I mean, sure, I knew it wasn't going to win any awards, but it was cruising along nicely. The direction is serviceable, the acting was pretty darn good (from Galligan, the aforementioned cutie Ms. Johnson and Robert Duncan McNeill of "Star Trek: Voyager") and the gore effects were pretty impressive.

However, about 45 minutes in (30 minutes of "The Big Chill Redux" plus 15 minutes of the fly attacks), the movie quickly goes downhill. The majority of the last half of the movie involves the surviving characters fending fly-zombies off with torches and running around outside and inside the house trying to decide what to do. There's no suspense, and the comedic element is gone for all practical purposes. The gore is non-existent as well. In addition, there's a "surprise" revelation toward the end which is relatively boring and cringe-inducing. I have a pretty good feeling that it was supposed to be played for humor, but it was only worthy of a yawn.

One other note: Zach Galligan is a decent enough actor. In addition, He's a pretty nice guy. I actually talked to him one night in 1986 or so as he was waiting for a cab on 86th and Broadway in New York. So my advice to him is simply this: get a new agent, buddy. You deserve better.

First half of the movie: 4 out of 5 stars. The last half of the movie: 1 out of 5 stars. As a result, my final rating: 2 out of 5 stars. Rent it.