Fase 7

A block of flats is quarantined off as a result of a deadly virus that is sweeping the world. The inhabitants quickly succumb to psychological deterioration as paranoia and claustrophobia set in.

This Argentinean epidemic movie is pretty impressive. Its setting is necessarily limited but the film-makers make the most of it. The narrative is powered mainly by a decent array of characters, well played by the entire cast. The dramatic tensions in Phase 7 come not so much from the virus but from the interactions between the neighbours. As time goes on the microcosmic society of the tower block breaks down and primal instincts begin to take over. The scenario is not unlike one you would imagine J.D. Ballard coming up with, with its look at social norms deteriorating rapidly as they are tested under unusual conditions. The movie benefits too from a nice moody soundtrack that recalls the work of John Carpenter. There is at least one very well executed – and unexpected – gore scene too. In fact, the movie moves into some quite tense thriller territory in the final third. So overall, it tries to make the most of its basic set-up and deliver some suspense and atmosphere along the way. Phase 7 is a very worthwhile psychological sci-fi thriller.

This exciting, low-budget Argentine film by Nicolas Goldbart revolves a young couple, Coco (Daniel Hendler) and Pipi (Jazmin Stuart) living in a small, high middle class apartment complex in present-day Buenos Aires City. Suddenly, the whole edifice where they live is under quarantine due to a strange high-mortality epidemic that affects the lungs of its victims. Thus, Coco and Pipi find themselves prisoners of their own apartment. The same goes for their colorful neighbors. All residents, the local sanitary authorities declare, must remain in their apartments until the quarantine is over. None knows how long would that be. Soon food supplies start to run short. Internet is down; so is television. Things take a turn for the worse and the disease becomes a global pandemic. Authorities everywhere –we learn-- are overwhelmed in a matter of days or perhaps weeks. As millions of thousands of people begin to die worldwide, a state of complete chaos and anarchy follows. A maximum stage alert (Phase 6) is declared by the World Health Organization. Yet things get even worse. The apartment complex mirrors society as a whole as the desperate and paranoid neighbors start making alliances and turning on each other with deadly intentions . . .

So imagine if in Shaun of the Dead, Liz was 7 months pregnant, they'd just done their monthly supermarket shop and instead of going out, they'd decided to hole up in her block of flats. And the zombies don't bother to attack (there are no zombies in Phase 7, but it has the feel of a zombie film). But the rest of the apartment block goes a bit mental. That would kind of be along the lines of this film. It's funny (most the humour is pretty subtle but there are a few real laugh out loud moments) and it is quite bonkers but in a really enjoyable way. It's maybe not fair to compare it to SotD, it's not quite in that league, but it is a really enjoyable film with some great fun performances that's worth checking out if you get the chance.

I really wanted to like this movie more. I feel like it comes close to being great, but then falls down below the sub-par level due to the plodding first-half.

The biggest issue is the doofus main character who really is a moron. The movie reminds us of this often through the dialogue of other characters, but it's frustrating to a fault.

Oftentimes the character fails to investigate or communicate properly, and seems to go out of his way to be aloof.

Now the highlight of Phase 7 is that there's a lot of suspense and you're never really quite sure what's going on, but when you have a main character with below room temperature I.Q., it turns into an exercise of frustration.

Thankfully the second half of the film picks up quite a bit thanks to the best character in the film, Horatio, moving the pace along.

I sort of wish the movie had reached that point sooner and focused a bit more on the discovery of what was going on rather than the day-to-day antics of the main character and his wife.

Even still, I think the second half of the film really makes it worth watching, especially for Horatio. The only problem is that you have to sit through the first half of the film to get there. Hence the 5 out of 10 rating.

Clearly the movies about the end of the world and global epidemics have saturated theaters, some time from North America, through Europe to reach South America. Phase 7 does not look nor intended to be a lot more of, since we are surrounded by family and neighborhood relations around the quarantine of a building, caused by the global epidemic that plagues the general population. Coco a sleepy and sometimes awkward man is taking complicity with his neighbor, who is fully prepared for this kind of apocalyptic scenarios, while 7 months pregnant pipi, coconut couple remains ensconced in his apartment, completely ignoring coconut scans with his neighbor Horacio through the building. Zanutto, another neighbor of coconut, is clearly the veteran stereotype that leaves no doubt of brutality when shooting in cold blood to other neighbors who came to claim him for alleged Zanutto symptoms presented; eventually come and go shotgun Zanutto by Horacio him and for his, accompanied by a coconut increasingly takes the weight of the situation. Gradually being dead most condo owners in an atmosphere of survival. When there is no more that Zanutto and Horacio with coconut, is a kind of final duel between the two sides, where every action is delimited on the end of the frame, not tell.

Positives: the relationship coconut and pipi, is almost a radiograph to current relationships with differences of character and decisions. Makes history entertaining and takes the pressure of the plot, for the situation that we are experiencing. Maintains a dark thriller that sometimes keeps one alert, but only at times. Negatives: some loose ends. Slow start to reach the climax of the story, perhaps one a bit more than usual so dynamic that exists. Character semi achieved with little justification for their actions. The end deflates a bit, but the plot does not give more.