The Human Race

A group of people are taken from their known existence and taken to a remote location they are unaware of. The lot are from all walks of life; young, old, disabled, athletic, rich and poor, of all nationalities. Confused and afraid, these 80 people will be unwilling participants will strive for the one goal evolution teaches us: survival of the fittest.

This movie is on an epic scale and worthy of a comparison to the movie Battle Royal. Not for the faint of heart, you get a realization of what a human being will do when reduced from its modern conveniences and put in a state where primal urges rule. Paul Hough did not spare any expense and reveals to the audience the difference between survival and salvation. The well rounded cast played their roles well from the injured and compassionate vet to the bloodthirsty hot chick who cares only for herself. The story is unconventional and told in a brilliant way which separates it from most independent horror stories into a class all on its own.

It s slasher that's a thriller and leaves plenty of room for the psychological betrayal of the audience. It all makes for a great story; seeing both ends of the spectrum of the human condition. The intense plot twists will keep the audience craving for more. The performance and chemistry between Eddie McGee and Paul McCarthy-Boyington were top notch, drawing me in for what's to come for these two brothers against the hordes.

Making films based on a concept idea isn't easy and certainly doesn't guarantee a good film but I always admire filmmakers for making something different. In 'The Human Race' random people get put into a race (or running contest) with very strict rules (we get to hear them 15 times throughout the film) the contestants have to follow or they die. The film seems to be made either by a first time director (he isn't) or someone who deliberately ignores some basic film rules. The film switches protagonists a couple of times (first one after 9 minutes??) but sometimes it's to make a point I guess. The Human Race is a bit of a mixed bag: it feels somewhat unbalanced and amateurish on one hand but it does keep you interested and wondering where they are going with the story. I'm sure there are people who will hate this film and/or won't be happy with the conclusion of the story but I liked it and would recommend it if you like weird concept scifi films. The most comparable film would be CUBE, but that one was an instant classic, this one is a nice try though.

I am actually going to give this film a 6.5 and the reason why is because yes it was made on a small budget but to be honest its original.

the acting is not as bad as some are saying or some I have seen.

To give it a three would not be fair but i can see where a previous post did this in order to try to make the rating more realistic. I think about 6.7 maybe.

Don't shun it it has a decent share of blood and a couple of deaths were pretty good.

Give it a chance is all you need to do. The start was enough to make me sit and watch it and I thought it was OK.

Final thought....... Give it a chance scifi/horror fans.

The Human Race is not that bad at all, yes it's got it's faults but is an interesting movie, that pits completely random people against each other in a bid to find the most resilient. The ending came as another supprise to me, and actually left me wanting more. Give it a try then decide for yourself, but definitely don't believe the extreme low ratings some have given.

So yes, this movie is made to a budget, the actors aren't convincing, the special effects are cheap and the storyline is a little lacking.

However, overall it's a curiously enjoyable romp. The story develops the characters just enough for the viewer to connect to them and take an interest in their eventual fate.

Also of note is the use of non-stereotypical characters. The main characters involve a deaf couple, a cripple, a priest, a pregnant woman, and it goes on, the variety and effort to stick away from typical archetypal heroes is well noticed and appreciated.

It is a movie that most people can happily bypass, but by no means is it a waste of time... enjoyable. :)