88 reviews
Creepy and Gruesome Version of Alien in an Irish Farm
The broken farmer Dan (John Lynch) rents his farm for the scientist John (Marcel Iures) from the Bovine Genetics Technology that is researching genetic modifications of cattle to increase its fertilization. The veterinarian Orla (Essie Davis) is bitten by the calf while helping the cow to deliver, and she feels that something went wrong with the experiment. During the night, the cow has a narrow passage for the calf, and Dan asks the young couple Jamie (Sean Harris) and Mary (Ruth Negga) that is parked in a trailer in front of his farm's entrance to help him in the delivery. When the offspring is born, it bites Dan; Orla arrives later and realizes that it is a genetic anomaly and she sacrifices the calf. During the autopsy of the animal, she discovers that the fetus is pregnant and she destroys the freak hybrids. However, one of them escapes and attacks a cow first and Jamie later. When John arrives in the farm, he discovers that there is the danger of infection of human beings and decides to quarantine the spot. But one offspring is alive and need to be captured.
"Isolation" is a creepy and gruesome version of Alien in an Irish farm. The cinematography is very dark like the story that is simple but works, and the locations are indeed repugnant. But the direction and the cast make the difference with excellent work highlighting the always excellent John Lynch. The special effects are great and the open conclusion gives a perfect ending to this movie. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Quarentena" ("Quarantine")
"Isolation" is a creepy and gruesome version of Alien in an Irish farm. The cinematography is very dark like the story that is simple but works, and the locations are indeed repugnant. But the direction and the cast make the difference with excellent work highlighting the always excellent John Lynch. The special effects are great and the open conclusion gives a perfect ending to this movie. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Quarentena" ("Quarantine")
- claudio_carvalho
- Nov 11, 2008
- Permalink
I actually liked it, it was creepy and intense.
Isolation is a very odd horror/thriller, but it works. The storyline isn't the best (animal experiment gone wrong), but its doable. The thing that makes the movie pretty good is the characters, suspense, and fear of the unknown. The actors are not well known, but they are good, they make it a lot more believable. Also, they act in a realistic manner, which also really helped. Over all its a great suspense film. Yes, the idea as a whole is pretty trite and corny, but the director made it work into something good. Its a good above average horror/thriller that is actually pretty underrated. I rate this 7/10. Rated R for violence/gore, language and a scene of sexuality
- Cablebot3000
- Aug 18, 2008
- Permalink
Very well made modern horror flick!
In a time when remakes, sequels and sequels to remakes are just about all the horror genre is getting, it's refreshing to a see a film that isn't merely a copy of another. This film isn't completely original, however, as it has shades of classics such as Alien and The Thing, but the base of the plot is compelling and the way that director Billy O'Brien patiently builds up the atmosphere and tension is impressive. The plot obviously takes influence from the agricultural crisis's we've had in Britain over the last few years; namely foot and mouth, in which the desire not to have people coming and going from various farms was strong. The film starts with a cow giving birth. There's obviously a problem from the outset, and it increases when the cow is born. The calf is somehow not right, and the farmers take the decision to kill it. Upon dissecting the dead calf, it turns out that there's a parasite growing inside of it, and we soon learn that this is the result of an experiment carried out with the farmer's say so by an immoral vet...
The film is slow to start, and the first half is really just build up. However, the build up isn't boring and the director generates suspense by never really letting us know what is going on until it is really needed. The second half the film is entirely different to the first as then we focus more on action and gore, and this actually goes well with the beginning of the movie. There aren't many characters in the film, and that means that there aren't a lot of death scenes; but this isn't too important as the central monster looks cool enough, and the death scenes are suitably nasty, even though they're not very gory. The locations the atmosphere is a big stand out, and the director does a good job of ensuring the farm location is integral to the plot and good use of the dirty and eerie locations is used at all times. The film is a long way away from being perfect; the camera-work annoyed me somewhat as Billy O'Brien obviously subscribes to the flashy camera-work school of thought, and sometimes you can't see what's going on. However, this is a well made and well acted little horror film that deserves more plaudits for the fact that it's not a direct rip off. Very well done!
The film is slow to start, and the first half is really just build up. However, the build up isn't boring and the director generates suspense by never really letting us know what is going on until it is really needed. The second half the film is entirely different to the first as then we focus more on action and gore, and this actually goes well with the beginning of the movie. There aren't many characters in the film, and that means that there aren't a lot of death scenes; but this isn't too important as the central monster looks cool enough, and the death scenes are suitably nasty, even though they're not very gory. The locations the atmosphere is a big stand out, and the director does a good job of ensuring the farm location is integral to the plot and good use of the dirty and eerie locations is used at all times. The film is a long way away from being perfect; the camera-work annoyed me somewhat as Billy O'Brien obviously subscribes to the flashy camera-work school of thought, and sometimes you can't see what's going on. However, this is a well made and well acted little horror film that deserves more plaudits for the fact that it's not a direct rip off. Very well done!
Squeamish creature-feature
Although the significance behind the title is only superficially explored - whether it be from too much 'isolation' from cosmpolitan city life, from interpersonal emotional relationships, from wholesome medical meddling, etc... this tightly told story of science run amok at a backwoods Irish farm becomes frightening due to keen usage of natural elements combined with a focus on natural visual/special effects - no CGI! Although the characters are unremarkable, the unrelenting tension gets its strength from the filmmaker's refusal to ever leave the premises. In addition, the overcast skies and the interiors' infrastructures allow the director many opportunities to increase the audience's fear of when and how the creature will affect the proceedings. Though the audience never witnesses the full poteniality of its metamorphosis (although the budget was almost $9.5 million, they may have run out before unleashing a complete masterpiece) the glimpses of how science's ambitions can run amok are horrifyingly conveyed. Essie Davis is gorgeous, but did not create a 'Jamie Lee Curtis' in "Halloween." Definitely recommended.
Bovine aliens... Or something thereabout...
"Isolation" is actually a rather enjoyable movie, a fairly straight forward horror movie, in the likes of "Alien", actually. Well, think Alien subjected to an element of bovine, and then you essentially have "Isolation".
The story is about some experiment taking place on a remote farm in remote location of Ireland. Local farmer Dan (played by John Lynch) and veterinarian Orla (played by Essie Davis) are not fully aware of the extends of the experiment in which they are participating. Something is wrong with the cow carrying a calf, and during a troubled birthing, a horrible secret is revealed.
"Isolation" was filmed in a nice way, lots of interesting shots and angles here, and there was a very intense and adrenaline-filled moments throughout the movie. The mood was great and really helped the movie along quite nicely.
The creature effects was quite interesting, and it was a very unique appearance they opted to go for in the movie, both with the larvae and the grown creature itself.
And there is enough blood in the movie to keep most gorehounds fairly satisfied.
Got 95 minutes to spare, then "Isolation" could be a good way to spend it. The movie is enjoyable, has a good story and some interesting creature effects.
The story is about some experiment taking place on a remote farm in remote location of Ireland. Local farmer Dan (played by John Lynch) and veterinarian Orla (played by Essie Davis) are not fully aware of the extends of the experiment in which they are participating. Something is wrong with the cow carrying a calf, and during a troubled birthing, a horrible secret is revealed.
"Isolation" was filmed in a nice way, lots of interesting shots and angles here, and there was a very intense and adrenaline-filled moments throughout the movie. The mood was great and really helped the movie along quite nicely.
The creature effects was quite interesting, and it was a very unique appearance they opted to go for in the movie, both with the larvae and the grown creature itself.
And there is enough blood in the movie to keep most gorehounds fairly satisfied.
Got 95 minutes to spare, then "Isolation" could be a good way to spend it. The movie is enjoyable, has a good story and some interesting creature effects.
- paul_haakonsen
- Oct 4, 2013
- Permalink
Irish mutant Cow horror film.
- poolandrews
- Oct 12, 2010
- Permalink
Unexpectedly very well done.
About as believable as any good zombie film, Isolation excels at pacing, thorough examination and explanation, and coming full circle with all of the concepts it presents. Something that so many similar movies fail at.
If you are looking for a mindless slasher, watch something else, though there's slightly creepy nuances that beckon back to films like Alien. If you need that human relation-based plot, there might be enough here to keep you satisfied, but the film doesn't rely at all on developing side-stories of love and emotion. Characters have seemingly realistic reactions and make understandable decisions (unclouded by the need to make irrational decisions for the sake of building tension in the script). Scenes follow-through to conclusion and don't seem edited for time.
Isolation leaves no main plot thread unresolved, and stylishly elaborates on the scientific as well as horrific ideas as they presented. I don't think this will be a widely appealing film, but it didn't take any wrong turns. I don't recall any advertising for it. This might mean it's less Nike and more sandal, but there is a time when sandals are practical.
It's every bit as intelligent as the best X-Files episodes, and I wasn't able to find any cheese in the effects, though I half-anticipated it to devolve into Critters or a Texas Chainsaw movie. It didn't, however, and was able to maintain it's integrity throughout.
I thought it was a gamble when I chose to rent this over a well-advertised title. But I now feel it was entertaining enough and well worth picking up.
If you are looking for a mindless slasher, watch something else, though there's slightly creepy nuances that beckon back to films like Alien. If you need that human relation-based plot, there might be enough here to keep you satisfied, but the film doesn't rely at all on developing side-stories of love and emotion. Characters have seemingly realistic reactions and make understandable decisions (unclouded by the need to make irrational decisions for the sake of building tension in the script). Scenes follow-through to conclusion and don't seem edited for time.
Isolation leaves no main plot thread unresolved, and stylishly elaborates on the scientific as well as horrific ideas as they presented. I don't think this will be a widely appealing film, but it didn't take any wrong turns. I don't recall any advertising for it. This might mean it's less Nike and more sandal, but there is a time when sandals are practical.
It's every bit as intelligent as the best X-Files episodes, and I wasn't able to find any cheese in the effects, though I half-anticipated it to devolve into Critters or a Texas Chainsaw movie. It didn't, however, and was able to maintain it's integrity throughout.
I thought it was a gamble when I chose to rent this over a well-advertised title. But I now feel it was entertaining enough and well worth picking up.
A killer mutant cow foetus should be more fun than this.
After watching the goddawful Shrooms, I googled 'Irish horror films' to see if anything worthwhile horror-wise had actually come out of the 'Emerald Isle' in recent years; Isolation was a title that repeatedly came up, so I thought I'd give it a go. However, whilst nowhere near as bad as the aforementioned Shrooms (but then again, not much is), Isolation isn't a film I'd recommend, being rather too slow paced (I know, I know... this is to build suspense and develop characters, but it's also boring), riddled with plot holes, and ultimately coming off as a low rent Alien rip-off, albeit one set on a farm.
John Lynch plays Dan, a cattle farmer who regrets allowing a scientist to experiment on one of his cows after it gives birth to a vicious calf, which in turn spawns a rapidly mutating 'inside-out' monster foetus that proceeds to attack anyone unlucky enough to cross its path. Admittedly, this sounds like a lot of funkinda like Black Sheep with uddersbut it isn't: it's plodding, not particularly scary (there's a couple of effective 'jumps', but not a lot in the way of genuine terror), and way too derivative: this really is nothing more than your standard monster on the loose story, given a rural twist.
Occasionally, there are glimmers of inspiration, such as a few nasty deaths utilising a nasty piece of farmyard equipment used to kill animals, and there is also a touch of reasonable gore, but with a badly conceived monster (that looked like a cross between a crispy wonton and a chitinous prawn to me), this film doesn't go a long way to convince me that Irish horror movies are gonna have much of an impact on the genre.
Still, if I can find a copy, I expect I'll give Dead Meat a chance (I love zombie films), and I might even check out the upcoming Freakdog, from Shrooms director Paddy Breathnachafter all, it's GOTTA be better than his last effort.
John Lynch plays Dan, a cattle farmer who regrets allowing a scientist to experiment on one of his cows after it gives birth to a vicious calf, which in turn spawns a rapidly mutating 'inside-out' monster foetus that proceeds to attack anyone unlucky enough to cross its path. Admittedly, this sounds like a lot of funkinda like Black Sheep with uddersbut it isn't: it's plodding, not particularly scary (there's a couple of effective 'jumps', but not a lot in the way of genuine terror), and way too derivative: this really is nothing more than your standard monster on the loose story, given a rural twist.
Occasionally, there are glimmers of inspiration, such as a few nasty deaths utilising a nasty piece of farmyard equipment used to kill animals, and there is also a touch of reasonable gore, but with a badly conceived monster (that looked like a cross between a crispy wonton and a chitinous prawn to me), this film doesn't go a long way to convince me that Irish horror movies are gonna have much of an impact on the genre.
Still, if I can find a copy, I expect I'll give Dead Meat a chance (I love zombie films), and I might even check out the upcoming Freakdog, from Shrooms director Paddy Breathnachafter all, it's GOTTA be better than his last effort.
- BA_Harrison
- Jun 29, 2008
- Permalink
"Alien "meets "Farmer in the Dell"
- lennonforever
- Oct 12, 2007
- Permalink
Don't have a (mad) cow, man!
A couple of years ago, when the news bulletins in Europe were stuffed with updates regarding the 'mad cow disease', I was actually wondering how long it would take before some clever scriptwriter would come up with the very first horror movie revolving on this disturbing illness! As far as I'm aware, this potentially interesting movie never came until the Irish director Billy O'Brien invented something similar, namely a rather far-fetched tale about genetically altered calves running amok on a remote farm in the Irish countryside. "Isolation" is probably also the ONLY horror film ever to have "stolen" an idea from the grotesque animated series "South Park"! How's that? Well, I think it's in the very first episode that Cartman & C° encounter cows that were mysteriously turned inside out, and that wicked phenomenon also features here in this seriously intended and occasionally eerie low-budget horror flick! "Isolation" is a very slow-paced film that doesn't feature many spectacular moments, but it's nevertheless a bit creepy and compelling enough to hold your attention. Especially the first 45 minutes or so are mysteriously build up. There's something the matter with the pregnant cows in farmer Dan's stables. We're told that he agreed to be part of a small-scaled scientific experiment that messes with calves-fetuses, but no details are given at all. Then there's also a young couple perpetrating the farm in their camper. Jamie and Mary are obviously hiding some secrets as well but, again, no details are given. The mysteriousness of the experiments along with the ominous farm-setting really stimulates your curiosity and you want to know where this will all lead to, especially because ordinary cattle aren't exactly the most menacing horror monsters. Sadly enough, "Isolation" turns into a mediocre and slightly dull creature-feature once the truth behind the genetic experiments gets revealed and the actual cow-monster is on the loose. The last half hour, including the film's climax, are a weak imitation of Ridley Scott's legendary "Alien", with the last couple of survivors trying to avoid confrontation with a rarely seen monster. I don't know how they managed this, but Dan's farm suddenly even looks exactly like the Nostromo; the mother-ship in "Alien"! There's only five characters in the film, so don't expect too many gruesome death sequences or sudden twists. The best things I can say about "Isolation" is that it's an atmospheric and well-made film, benefiting from its dark & depressing locations (the rain never seems to end in Ireland) and a genuinely creepy musical score. The creative basic storyline and the patient building up of tension definitely make Billy O'Brien a name to remember.
Not as bad as all that
I think that the other review of this film is a bit unfair. Yes it is a quiet movie which moves with a very deliberate pace. No there is not a huge monster nor do we see it overly much. The important thing in kind of indie horror film is to establish tension then retain and gain it. The film was quite effective there. There are a number of moments which are very uncomfortable indeed in this film. By not showing too much of the creature they were using the "Cat People" dodge which is that if you don't have the money or resources for a big scary beast then let the audience imagine it. If they had shown something one wonders if the prior reviewer would have trashed them for that as well.
- christian_zabriskie
- Jun 27, 2006
- Permalink
No explosion Hollywood action movie!
I read somewhere that some commenter said "a hand was being put up a cows ass 3 times under the time of 15 minutes". Now that is bull actually. If this person would have listened to the things the actors in this movie had to say, he would have understood that the cow was about to give birth and that the person "putting his/hers hand in the cows ass" was a veterinarian that was about to check the calves condition and therefor made a ultrasound on the cow. Anyhow, this movie was actually better than expected. Especially since I read a comment that was no use to me what so ever. I liked this movie because it seemed quite real. It seems like something that could happen. But if you want something including explosions, watch something else. This is not the movie! I have heard that Irish meat could give "mad cow disease" and after "Isolation" I am not eating any more Irish meat. "Isolation" is scaring enough, fun to watch (at least if you like animals), gives a real feeling and this might be why I found it scary. In my opinion the things that scare me the most is stuff that could happen in real life and this could. I liked this B-movie a lot. Enjoy this movie when you are tired of all the explosions from the Hollywood action world.
- slimebitch
- Dec 15, 2006
- Permalink
Isolation: Not easy on the stomach
- Platypuschow
- Apr 6, 2018
- Permalink
Not bad at all
Best inverted cow film of the decade
- james_ian_miller
- Oct 31, 2007
- Permalink
Disjointed Aliens exercise in the farm setting
The first one third of the movie was just to build up something. The second third consisted of purposeless hanging around seasoned with naturalistic vet scenes. The ending third was filled with, say, fight scenes, puzzling you on what they were actually doing and what they were doing it for. This was it.
Some points made me really wonder. I've never seen a movie, where people went on fighting creatures without even a kitchen knife in their hands. Never seen people deciding to fight without even a trace of escape planning. Finally, I've never seen a movie with such space disproportions. Small barns suddenly turned to be enormous from inside. Two heroes in the same barn staying still and calling each other by shouting suddenly appear to be barely two meters apart.
Generally I liked the actors, although there was nothing to perform except some harsh vet duties. Generally I liked sets as well. Hanging chains, pumps, huge desolated barns were atmospheric by themselves, although poorly used to develop on the mood of the movie. The only sets elements used properly were mud and cows.
There is nothing in this movie - nothing fresh, no emotions, no scares. Even the process of watching itself doesn't deliver anything except wonders on how poor the directing can go given with a good crew, actors and sets. Save your time for something else.
Some points made me really wonder. I've never seen a movie, where people went on fighting creatures without even a kitchen knife in their hands. Never seen people deciding to fight without even a trace of escape planning. Finally, I've never seen a movie with such space disproportions. Small barns suddenly turned to be enormous from inside. Two heroes in the same barn staying still and calling each other by shouting suddenly appear to be barely two meters apart.
Generally I liked the actors, although there was nothing to perform except some harsh vet duties. Generally I liked sets as well. Hanging chains, pumps, huge desolated barns were atmospheric by themselves, although poorly used to develop on the mood of the movie. The only sets elements used properly were mud and cows.
There is nothing in this movie - nothing fresh, no emotions, no scares. Even the process of watching itself doesn't deliver anything except wonders on how poor the directing can go given with a good crew, actors and sets. Save your time for something else.
Great suspense Flick, better than average
Nothing spectacular
The opening scenes were an eye catcher and a little comical but the rest was of no artistical talent.
This is your average C rated D budget movie that is so circular and predictable i can spend my entire life listing other movies that it is a carbon copy plot and script of.
There are a lot of facial closeups to avoid showing the lack of CGI, action or change of scenery. The cast follows the typical set of disoriented characters that run around confused not knowing what to do. The overall pace is very moooooody (emphasis on the Os) and stale with clichés coming out of every corner. The one good thing about it is that at least not all of the actors are hysterical screamers or prom queens. This is a plus, at least they look like farm hands.
a waste of your time unless you are from the area where the movie was shot. Then you might find it enjoyable, i suppose.
This is your average C rated D budget movie that is so circular and predictable i can spend my entire life listing other movies that it is a carbon copy plot and script of.
There are a lot of facial closeups to avoid showing the lack of CGI, action or change of scenery. The cast follows the typical set of disoriented characters that run around confused not knowing what to do. The overall pace is very moooooody (emphasis on the Os) and stale with clichés coming out of every corner. The one good thing about it is that at least not all of the actors are hysterical screamers or prom queens. This is a plus, at least they look like farm hands.
a waste of your time unless you are from the area where the movie was shot. Then you might find it enjoyable, i suppose.
- idonotexist
- Nov 10, 2006
- Permalink
Goremongral's Cow Slaying Review: Isolation
- ChiefGoreMongral
- Jul 8, 2007
- Permalink
"I'm going to have to quarantine the farm."
- Backlash007
- Feb 23, 2008
- Permalink
Experiments gone awry on a desolate farm have deadly results.
Billy O'Brien pulls no punches and avoids no arm-in-bum shots in this tension-filled, dark film. The first portion of the movie, the viewer is left in a fog of confusion, constantly trying decipher exactly what's happening on the farm. The high level of confusion felt by the viewer perfectly parallels that of the protagonist--Dan, played adequately by John Lynch. Though exactly what "went wrong" is never truly established, its effects certainly are and lead to a horrible series of events.
Marcel Iures played John, the conductor of said experiments. His performance pushes the film towards its climax. He provides a dark and knowing force in the film albeit a somewhat typical mad scientist mold that he fits into.
O'Brien's greatest achievement is the reality in which he creates his film. His frequent use of a hand-held camera lends it a voyeuristic, documentary type of feel. He also utilizes a number of point of view shots to keep the viewer as close to the unappetizing going-ons as possible. That along with the low-key acting creates a very realistic portrait of farm life. Still, a threat found on a bovine farm can only be so terrifying. And though the idea is refreshingly original, the writing is still average at best. The characters share too many traits and seem to lack interests or goals outside of mere survival.
Marcel Iures played John, the conductor of said experiments. His performance pushes the film towards its climax. He provides a dark and knowing force in the film albeit a somewhat typical mad scientist mold that he fits into.
O'Brien's greatest achievement is the reality in which he creates his film. His frequent use of a hand-held camera lends it a voyeuristic, documentary type of feel. He also utilizes a number of point of view shots to keep the viewer as close to the unappetizing going-ons as possible. That along with the low-key acting creates a very realistic portrait of farm life. Still, a threat found on a bovine farm can only be so terrifying. And though the idea is refreshingly original, the writing is still average at best. The characters share too many traits and seem to lack interests or goals outside of mere survival.
Bloody good film (no pun intended!)
Mutated cows
Very impressive 3/4 of a film
Desperately tries to be a slow and brooding survival horror set on a muddy Irish farm and does that to a degree, but do not get too excited over it.
My guess is that Irish director Billy O'Brien grew up loving his horror films, his 'Alien' and his 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' in particular and there's even a little bit of Frankenstein in there for good measure. These films, and a few others, pop up a couple of times in Isolation, a horror film that is fairly self-explained by its title, and is actually the bane of the piece. Like fellow contemporary horror director Eli Roth, with his Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes inspired Cabin Fever and Hostel films, O'Brien has created something that does the job to a degree but is distinctly average throughout, providing little in the way of originality and quite a bit in the splatter column but not necessarily being anything brilliant overall.
I mean, it isn't anything special. It's a horror film with all the typical foundations of a horror film that draws on a lot of previous texts and ideas and a lot of those previous ideas have been done really, really well in much better films. Here, the filmmakers have got a muddy and dank look out of the director of photography but in terms of original story or ideas, they're running on empty. The idea behind several people being trapped in a location is nothing new apart from the fact it's a farm, something that perhaps hasn't been used before. The idea that the anti-human component of the piece is some sort of wired, mutating creature has been done and the film's overall catalyst distinctly reminded me of Frankenstein, as I mentioned.
But maybe that's the point, maybe its supposed to be some sort of statement on animal testing or cloning or whatever but it really just ends up as being a bit of a splatter-fest and not a particularly scary one at that. This is due to the majority of the splatter content being reduced to the executing of farmyard animals, those certain scenes actually feel relatively out of place and distracting from the real horror-come-splatter we're all supposed to be here for.
The film sees John, played by a Romanian actor named Marcel Iures who around about the time had been getting an increased amount of Western attention with the likes of Layer Cake, Goal! and The Cave either already on or on the brink of making his C.V. The fact he's a deranged Eastern European doctor and the casting of a Romanian actor gives us an odd but balanced feel of both Frankenstein and Dracula in equal measure. John is using a farm in Ireland run by Dan (Lynch), who has two squatters in a caravan placed just outside his entrance, they are Jaime (Harris) and Mary (Negga) and they're on the run from someone.
The film's intentions and ideas are all firmly placed in the right areas. The establishment of two separate groups of people that will eventually come together is an interesting one, one that I'm sure draws on inspiration from something like Assault on Presinct 13 but with a lot less antagonism. There are some ideas and scenes that work, but feel as if they should have worked better. The incident during which someone visits Dan's farm looking for the two stowaways with one of them in close proximity is a threat from outside the boundaries of the farm that isn't of the anti-human component and yet could spell disaster for certain characters. The scene is tense enough and acts as a precursor to the ideas and situations the character will find themselves in: feet away from being caught, and that's something you really don't want to happen.
But it's incredible how long the film takes in the setting up of the predicament. There is a lot of talk and establishing that there's something wrong with the cows and the experiment may have gone wrong and we're all supposed to ask each other "Oh, I wonder what terrible, terrible things lurk within" but the on-screen build up of something very much off-screen wears a little thin, not because you want the film to cut to the gore which is a silly mindset to have during any film, but because it just gets repetitive. There is a lot of head scratching and explaining to the audience as to what is going on and what all these experiments and scientific things mean and before too long, wouldn't you know it: it just becomes Alien on an Irish farm. Pure and simple.
There is a scene nearer the end in which the now lead role, who echoes Ripley in both gender and transition into said role, crawls around under the floor amidst some grates as the monster stalks her. It is very reminiscent of the scene in Alien during which the hapless crew member scurries around in the vent shaft with a flamethrower to defend themselves whilst the rest watch on via a radar. When we actually get to see the creature, it is a rather disappointing mess of skin and ooze sort of a GCSE papier-mâché piece submitted for the teacher's cruel assessment. There is no long, slimy tail slithering down from the ceiling in a massive cargo bay as another hapless crew member searches for a lost cat; it's just a mess of eyes, limbs and a couple of bones stuck on for good measure. The film was direct to DVD in America and Italy amongst many other nations, I'm sure. It isn't of that low level, but the film certainly isn't anything to shout about.
I mean, it isn't anything special. It's a horror film with all the typical foundations of a horror film that draws on a lot of previous texts and ideas and a lot of those previous ideas have been done really, really well in much better films. Here, the filmmakers have got a muddy and dank look out of the director of photography but in terms of original story or ideas, they're running on empty. The idea behind several people being trapped in a location is nothing new apart from the fact it's a farm, something that perhaps hasn't been used before. The idea that the anti-human component of the piece is some sort of wired, mutating creature has been done and the film's overall catalyst distinctly reminded me of Frankenstein, as I mentioned.
But maybe that's the point, maybe its supposed to be some sort of statement on animal testing or cloning or whatever but it really just ends up as being a bit of a splatter-fest and not a particularly scary one at that. This is due to the majority of the splatter content being reduced to the executing of farmyard animals, those certain scenes actually feel relatively out of place and distracting from the real horror-come-splatter we're all supposed to be here for.
The film sees John, played by a Romanian actor named Marcel Iures who around about the time had been getting an increased amount of Western attention with the likes of Layer Cake, Goal! and The Cave either already on or on the brink of making his C.V. The fact he's a deranged Eastern European doctor and the casting of a Romanian actor gives us an odd but balanced feel of both Frankenstein and Dracula in equal measure. John is using a farm in Ireland run by Dan (Lynch), who has two squatters in a caravan placed just outside his entrance, they are Jaime (Harris) and Mary (Negga) and they're on the run from someone.
The film's intentions and ideas are all firmly placed in the right areas. The establishment of two separate groups of people that will eventually come together is an interesting one, one that I'm sure draws on inspiration from something like Assault on Presinct 13 but with a lot less antagonism. There are some ideas and scenes that work, but feel as if they should have worked better. The incident during which someone visits Dan's farm looking for the two stowaways with one of them in close proximity is a threat from outside the boundaries of the farm that isn't of the anti-human component and yet could spell disaster for certain characters. The scene is tense enough and acts as a precursor to the ideas and situations the character will find themselves in: feet away from being caught, and that's something you really don't want to happen.
But it's incredible how long the film takes in the setting up of the predicament. There is a lot of talk and establishing that there's something wrong with the cows and the experiment may have gone wrong and we're all supposed to ask each other "Oh, I wonder what terrible, terrible things lurk within" but the on-screen build up of something very much off-screen wears a little thin, not because you want the film to cut to the gore which is a silly mindset to have during any film, but because it just gets repetitive. There is a lot of head scratching and explaining to the audience as to what is going on and what all these experiments and scientific things mean and before too long, wouldn't you know it: it just becomes Alien on an Irish farm. Pure and simple.
There is a scene nearer the end in which the now lead role, who echoes Ripley in both gender and transition into said role, crawls around under the floor amidst some grates as the monster stalks her. It is very reminiscent of the scene in Alien during which the hapless crew member scurries around in the vent shaft with a flamethrower to defend themselves whilst the rest watch on via a radar. When we actually get to see the creature, it is a rather disappointing mess of skin and ooze sort of a GCSE papier-mâché piece submitted for the teacher's cruel assessment. There is no long, slimy tail slithering down from the ceiling in a massive cargo bay as another hapless crew member searches for a lost cat; it's just a mess of eyes, limbs and a couple of bones stuck on for good measure. The film was direct to DVD in America and Italy amongst many other nations, I'm sure. It isn't of that low level, but the film certainly isn't anything to shout about.
- johnnyboyz
- Jan 30, 2009
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