BACTERIUMA film by Brett Piper
DVD submitted by Pop Cinema
From the US shock-o-rama label, distributed by POP Cinema, comes a nice creature feature made by Brett Piper. Master FX creator and director Brett Piper announced his film early 2006 and last year we were even able to interview the man on this feature. Today 16 months later, POP Cinema presented us the final version of this film ready for the home entertainment market.
Four friends and paintball weekend warriors, stumble upon an abandoned building during one of their war games. Unfortunately the building doesn’t seem to be as abandoned as it looks and before they know it they come face to face with the a maniacal scientist and a black division of the US army.The scientist predicts the end of the world within 48 hours unless he is able to find a cure for the cancer he unleashed on the world. As the virulent, flesh-hungry contagion spreads from person to person, rendering each host into a pile of infectious ooze, it begins to multiply and increase in size. Trapped between the monster and the army, the youngsters have to find a way out alive. However when the scientist gets killed. The full-grown creature, with a will of its own manages to escape from the isolation of the improvised laboratory. Will the world finally come to an end or is a solution at hand?
"Bacterium" is a little gem from POP Cinema studios, written and directed by Brett Piper. The film has a typical seventies feel. Both lighting and sound are quite professional and even the acting, although a little stiff at times, is enjoyable. Rather unknown actors , although none inexperienced as for instance actor Benjamin Kanes has previously worked as stand-in for people like Mark Wahlberg and Jude Law, Miya Sagara acted in "Shock-O-Rama" and Alison Whitney was amongst the partygoers on "Splatter Beach". As usual with most POP cinema movies, you’ll even recognize some familiar faces amongst the extras. This time Paul Fedele and A.J. Kahn fill the screen!
"Bacterium" opens with a helicopter chasing a car, which gives it that typical seventies flicks feel. This seventies feel runs throughout the whole movie even including some out of time make-up and cheap old school FX tricks. Nevertheless the film is actually a homage to the fifties. An era, where faceless foes like the "BLOB" and "IT" were willing to take over the world. Those atomic age films from people like Roger Corman were indeed mindless entertainment, full of fun and scares. And that isn’t different for "BACTERIUM". A B-movie that stands above average because of its cool effects, some good-looking ladies and last but not least, the simplicity of the plot.If you want stylish CGI produced films that read like a PS3 game then please seek elsewhere, but if you are looking for entertainment and delight, then this flick might be the right thing for you, as matter of fact I strongly advise you to pick it up.
--- Pat --