Patient Seven

My quick rating - 5,5/10. One of a few problems with anthology movies is they tend to have good episodes, and bad episodes. Just like anything else. This can also be good since you will have different audiences viewing the material and one or two bad doesn't pull you completely out of the entire movie. So this story is seen through the analysis of a doctor/writer (wonderful as always, Michael Ironside) interviewing patients of a mental hospital to get the "real" feeling of the crimes that got them locked up. Without breaking each down, they each are stories of various insanity levels that don't ever go over the top but are able to get just enough of a response for you and Ironside to to get a feeling of them. This is not done through cheap scare tactics but conveyed through quality performances from the actors/actresses. I would also not being doing justice without pointing out the astounding part played by Alfie Allen. I was also partial to the little girl in her segment, what a little brat. Anyway, the stories were adequate, some better then others, and none outstanding. Another positive note, they were able to tie the whole thing together in the end.

Something I really appreciate in a film is a clever title. 'Patient Seven' has that, and for multiple reasons, but the biggest one being that it makes you crave the knowledge of who the seventh patient is and what makes them worthy of having the film named after them. The film is presented with seven stories and then the central film tying them all together. Here are my brief thoughts on each of the segments.

Segment 1: A bad way to start the film. Bland and unimaginative.

Segment 2: Probably my favourite segment of them film. Smart, funny and a wee twist to top it off.

Segment 3: Another boring segment with very little going for it. Not sure how it made the cut. More filler than anything else.

Segment 4: I'm from New Zealand and I can tell you that patient four's accent was nothing like that which we have here. The segment itself though the accents were much better (and even featured real New Zealand money which impressed me). Not a great segment, but far from the worst. Very much middle of the road.

Segment 5: Probably the second best segment. A little drawn out but has a nice ending to go out with a bang.

Segment 6: Yuck. Nothing to like about this one.

Segment 7: Would have liked this one to be better. It should have been, but again it just ran out of steam.

The best part of the movie though is the story tying all of this together. That's where the real fun is to be had. Michael Ironside does a great job playing the creepy main character and he has more than enough to work with in the script. The film finishes very strongly and that is always a good thing for a movie to do. Leave the audience with a good taste in their mouth.

And why wouldn't I? Sure, it wasn't the most original out there, and it went the multiple story type, but hey, it was well executed, decent effect and quite lovely actors.

Ironside is one of the oldies actors I really appreciate and apparently the man still has it, can perform just right, make you believe, if you give him a decent enough script he will play his part just right. The plot itself is good, I loved the way the stories were told, I think some of the monsters looked quite nicely and some tension made its appearance here and there.

Patient Seven will most likely remain an unknown horror, but those of you which will find it, go for it, it's far better than most productions nowadays, and it surely made the best of its budget. I for one will recommend it!

Cheers!

I thought it was great, kinda like an anthology movie. Really enjoyed the Zombies and vampire concepts.

A little bit cheesy at times but that's all part of the fun. Give it a go!

Patient Seven has great actors, a good score and interesting dialogue. It delivers seven horror short stories that are never boring.

Unfortunately the film makers never went through the trouble of connecting those stories, offering closure to each of the patients, or even giving us a proper ending.

Instead of reusing horror elements throughout the various plots, (same monsters, same crimes) they could have used the content to paint a bigger picture.

In all, an opportunity wasted.

I am giving "Patient Seven" 5 out of 10 stars.

Thanks. (10 lines yay, sometimes there just isn't more to say)