Radius

Radius lured me in with an interesting premise, but I stayed for the characters.

While watching this I came up with many versions of what was actually happening, but in the end the explanation itself was not required for me to enjoy this.

I liked the characters, their arcs, and the fact that the story was built around them. The writing was not as stupid as in many low budget sci-fi films, yet I can't really call this a sci-fi film, can I?

I mean, it was clearly marketed as a sci-fi mystery and even the titles suggests something like that, but it's actually a completely different movie.

Don't approach this as a sci-fi film with an easy explanation and if you enjoy emotionally packed films you will like this one.

Its hard to be down on a low budget film with such a great premise, but (for me) the execution wasn't there. The script left a lot to be desired, and combined with some flat acting, bits are kind of hard to watch. It's hard to say if its the script, acting or both. The plot is more or less what you'd expect, and the final act is actually a pretty cool idea, but again the execution brought it down.

Enough with the negatives though, this film isn't all bad. The idea is really cool, and I wish I could have seen this without the spoilers of the title and plot teaser. I think perhaps the greatest draw of this film is lost when you can't go on the same journey of discovery with our mystery man. That aside, I still enjoyed the early scenes quite a bit.

I really hope these kinds of low budget sci-fi films keep getting made. They many not all be gems, but they're usually more interesting than another billion dollar marvel film. 5.5/10.

Liam (Diego Klattenhoff, star of TV's "The Blacklist") wakes from a car crash with no memory of who he is. As he makes his way into town to look for help, he finds only dead bodies, all with strange pale eyes. Liam's first assessment is that a virus is present in the air, but he soon discovers the horrible truth.

This film was born with Fantasia's Frontières Market serving as midwife way back in 2012. Other great films in recent years that came out of this process are "Turbo Kid", "The Void" and "Raw", so the track record is rather strong. (The late George Romero's "Road of the Dead" most recently went through the market and may arrive in 2018.) A few producers were attached and dropped out along the way (hence the multi-year genesis), but ultimately everything worked out.

At first, I thought that perhaps the creators give too much away in their plot description (which I have shortened) and title, but this turns out not to be the case. While the viewer will be more rewarded the less they know going in, the cause of death is only the first in a series of surprises and twists. A far more interesting one awaits.

It cannot be overstated how absolutely wonderful this original concept is. Allegedly, it was inspired in part by the style and format of "Oldboy" (which is not at all obvious) mixed with the plot of an old Superman comic. There are mild horror elements, mixed in with an overall science fiction or supernatural premise. When we find out about the memory of the Santa beard, a mystery element is added. And still further the constant police chase adds an action element, making this a hard film to categorize (other than it is not much of a western or romance!).

The production value is clearly high, and the cinematography from Simon Villeneuve is rich and gorgeous. Charlotte Sullivan's acting seems a little too rehearsed, a little tense and unrealistic. This is a shame, really, because according to her, she approached the role as though she were Kim Novak in "Vertigo" or some other Hitchcock tale, which seems like a strong mindset to use. Diego Klattenhoff hits it out of the park, however. While his character's history and motives are constantly under question, Klattenhoff plays Liam with such warmth that we cannot help but side with him as he goes through this ordeal.

While it is hard to review this film without giving away too much, it really is a must-see. An official selection of FrightFest, Fantastic Fest, and Fantasia Film Festival, everyone else gets to finally see it available on VOD on November 10, 2017. Courtesy of Epic Pictures, the fine folks who gave us "Turbo Kid" and "Tales of Halloween".

I'm confused by the reviews that state that the ending was pointless. The movie starts after something mysterious happened and it never gets explained, but we see the result of it and that - in the end - horrors and wonders are helpless against what makes us human. I don't need a Marvel-Comic explanation why super-hero/villain comes into being, the story was really good and the movie is self-contained and thrilling.

It didn't break any barriers, did not change me or anything like that - it was solid, very very good entertainment and deserves every of its 8 points.

One thing I have always loved about Sci-Fi is how they can flesh out a thought experiment. The how/why something happens is secondary to what chain of events occurs when you start with a catalyzing thought/event.

In this case the the thought experiment is what would happen if everything that came within 50ft of a person dropped dead instantly. How would that person react, how would they figure it out? That was the portion of the story that I found compelling and interesting. The second part of the thought experiment, is what if there is another person who renders his powers safe.

The second aspect of the story, is that person in question, wakes up with amnesia. He can't remember who he is or anything about his life. There is also another person who also can't remember her life, and happened to be in the car wreck with him right before he woke up.

The part I found less compelling was the backstory of the two main characters. It was an odd mystery thriller added on top, that was kind of at odds with the characters' arc. It also kind of made the ending seem morally OK (perhaps even blah), instead of poignant and/or tragic. For many viewers, I assume, the added layer may make it more enticing, so I can't say it was bad, just not for me.

The ending did leave some unanswered questions, but that is to be expected and even desired for movies like this. Overall the movie was very well done, and worth watching.