Biophage

"Biophage" is a black and white 16mm zombie flick that goes back to the early days of zombies. As far back as '68, to the days of "Night of the Living Dead". "Biophage" focus on the survivors and their psyche rather than gory deaths and the killing of zombies, and that's how this entire genre of brain eaters originally started. Many filmmakers would fail terribly attempting something like this, which is the reason why there are so many over-the-top gory and cheesy zombie films, but Mark A. Rapp has created what we have been missing for many, many years.

The film starts out with a dream (that involves boobies. Good way to start a film, Mr. Rapp!). It depicts Sgt. Cain (the army man of the two) fooling around with his lover, rolling around in grass, but the dream quickly turns to a nightmare when his lover bites his neck. This is where Cain wakes up. He wakes up to the real world, that might not seem too real to them anymore... No living person as far as eye can see... Zombies roam around and attack when they least expect it. Cain and Bell has to get back to their home base, which is the only place they know of that still has living people. On the way there, they meet an older man who's lost his family to this "Phage". After being invited in for a home-cooked dinner, they start to realize that this sweet man might be anything but sweet. Like I mentioned earlier, "Biophage", just like Romero's original "Dead" trilogy, especially "Night of the Living Dead", the film has a lot to do with characters, actions, not going insane, staying alive and finding ways to do just that, and "Biophage" does just that. It's very rare to see this approach done well nowadays and I think that might be what surprised me the most about this film. The film still has zombies and some gore, but it's not what it focuses on, so it's only rare occasions where it takes up the films' screen time. I can't say if it's a good or bad thing, 'cause I'm still a fan of the living dead and love to see them tear people to shreds, and "Biophage" even had less of it than the original "Night.." had. Of course, this does not change the fact that I find "Biophage" to be a masterpiece of modern independent cinema.

The biggest flaws in this film is not the "lack of" zombies and gore, because we get enough to be pleased, but I think it's some of the acting, and the sound. The two main actors do a great job, there's no complaints there, but there are some smaller roles that aren't exactly played realistically, but I appreciate their effort. And the sound I'm referring to is some of the dubbing, but also that we, the audience, sometimes only hear silence when something obviously is going on. It's just small things like if someone takes a deeper-than-usual breath before talking and we can't hear it. Nothing major that ruins the experience, but it's things that keep reminding us that we're watching a low budgeted film.

It's easy to ignore flaws when the rest of the film is done so perfect, with such care, and that might be why "Biophage" is, after just one viewing, one of my all time favorite zombie films. I don't know if I will say the same thing in 2, 5, 10 or 20 years, but I know that this was a zombie film experience I haven't been close to for a long time. To me, "Biophage" might just be closer to being the sequel to "Night of the Living Dead" than "Dawn of the Dead" ever was. And that's not just because it's black and white, but rather the overall feel and style of the film. I can't understand how this film, which was filmed in 2002, still haven't found distribution. Every fan of zombies should check this one out if they ever get the chance to, and damn you if you don't like it.

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For an ultra low-budget zombie movie this particular one really wasn't that bad. At least not in comparison to the majority I have seen currently out in the market today. Filmed in black-and-white this movie essentially begins after an infectious disease referred to as the "phage" has caused most of humanity to revert to flesh-eating zombies. It is at this time that we are introduced to the two main characters named "Sgt Cain" (Ron Marnich) and "Dr. Bell" (Aaron Jackson). Both work at a medical research laboratory called Mt. Bethel and they have been ordered by their boss, "Dr. Miller" (John Yost) to scout out a nearby hospital to acquire some badly-needed medical supplies. In the process of their mission we learn that Sgt Cain has had an affair with Dr. Miller's wife "Julia Miller" (Kristin Pfeifer) for which Dr. Miller holds a great deal of resentment towards Sgt Cain. Likewise, it appears that Sgt Cain still has an attraction for Julia even though she apparently wants to put the affair behind her. In any case, while this sub-plot has great relevance the main problem both Sgt Cain and Dr. Bell have to contend with is the zombies and, interestingly enough, the humans they come into contact with. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that with what few resources the director (Mark Rapp) had at his disposal I believe that he managed to craft together as good a final product as anybody could have possibly produced under the circumstances. Further, although the actors were certainly not household names both Ron Marnich and Aaron Jackson--and to a lesser extent Dawn Ali (as "Bianca")--performed in a fairly decent manner. Even so, taking everything into consideration, this film is still not in the same league as the average zombie movie produced in Hollywood. Again, it was an ultra low-budget production and the lack of adequate resources clearly showed. That said I don't blame the director or the actors for this fact. Quite the contrary as I believe they should be commended for their efforts. However, as mentioned earlier, this film simply doesn't compare to those with much larger budgets. As such I have rated the film accordingly. Below average.

I saw Biophage last month at a friend's villa: it was playing in the background, and two of us at the gathering were sucked in about a quarter of the way through. We restarted the film, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

You'll need to know a few things going in: this is obviously a low budget film. It is, however, a film: shot on film!

I liked this movie. Biophage is a moody piece of cinema. The grain of the film lends itself to the dark subject matter which is essentially, as I see it, the collapse of the lynchpins on which society is built: family, religion, the military, the hospitals, etc. each has a representative in the film: The two doctors representing family are coming apart, wrecked partially by Cain, the main character himself. The military base they find has been wiped out, the Reverend they visit hides a secret (which I bet you can guess), and the hospital they visit to resupply themselves seems abandoned, but is total chaos.

Yes, this is a zombie film (though no one uses that word). It was released in 2010, but from what I've read, it was shot in 2002, and many of its elements, images, and characterizations were still new then. It's a shame it wasn't released closer to when it was shot: it may have been better accepted as a forerunner of a lot of what we see now as "standard zombie movie/TV."

I can understand the limitations of the production. film stock is expensive to purchase and develop, and requires a great deal of discipline while being used. Surely a lot of the budget went to just that: developing the film. From what the accomplished after that on a low budget is good stuff!

All in all, I rate this film an eight out of ten. It has a bit of action, but its virture lies in it being a thoughtful examination of the pillars of society tumbled down, and the effects of that on the individual. See it when you can.

Directed by Mark A. Rapp/Hard To Get Productions

A plague has rocked the world. Zombies thrive and man tries to survive. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It's the basis for many zombie films we all love. A smart filmmaker takes this formula, adding his own twist and storytelling to it. Mark Rapp is a smart man.

The CDC is trying to find a cure. The few survivors are either immune or injecting themselves daily with an experimental drug they hope will ward off the sickness. Mobile One is trying to return to Mt. Bethel before all supplies are gone. Our plot unfolds, insanity runs amok as man's greed, betrayal and instinct of survival rules.

I think, first, I have to warn you. This is not your standard brain munching film. Don't expect mobs of flesh hungry walking dead, buckets of oozing intestines and a blood splattered screen. Rapp instead has given us a suspenseful, psychological thriller. This is it. This is the end. Our last few human survivors. Will they succumb to man's self destructive fate, destined to wander a deadened world? Rapp makes you ponder your own morals and question just how far you would go to live in a vanishing world.

It's rare these days I can find a film that makes me think. A film that makes me question myself and whether I would do right by my morals or do they change once society no longer exists? After all, in the end, you only have yourself.

Shot in black and white, the style of the film works to intensify the story. It is a bleak time for mankind. Zombie make-up is above average for a low budget film, done by Make-Up Supervisor Steven F. Clark and Key SPFX Effects Make-Up Evolution Effects Studio, Inc. To be honest, I usually don't pay much attention to the musical score (by Kirk Hazen and Mark A. Rapp) unless it irks the crap out of me, or stands out for some reason. And I am not a wizard when it comes to music, but I do know it heightened my film experience.

Acting is also above the norm with marvelous performances by our leads Ron Allen Marnich and Aaron Jackson. I would have liked to have seen Dawn Ali get more screen time. It's a shame her skills were not put to better use.

This is the first non-gore zombie film I would ever recommend to my readers. Currently seeking distribution, keep an eye out for this gem in the future.

by Eve Blaack

NOTE: Since this review, BIOPHAGE has found distribution with Midnight Releasing and is available online and in selected stores.

Oh My God! I just finished watching one of the worst Zombies films ever made! I love a good B grade movie & a classic horror movie but when you try to make a Badly written, Badly Acted & Badly directed film look like a classic by making it in Black and White it only ends up being a Black and White Piece of Rubbish! I don't care if the budget was only $10000 I've seen better acting in cereal commercials! Admittedly I only watched it because of the guy that plays the doctor but now he makes me nauseous. The script was pathetic, I can only assume the Zombie makeup was self done by the cast themselves & the fact that these Zombies looked so weak and slow I don't know how they manage to catch and hold anyone. Beware never watch Biophage!