Pairic

The Virus (2014): Those meddling kids ... But it's not all their fault. A film studies professor notices that a mountainous area is constantly obscured by clouds, exploring he observes buildings in the area. He persuades his students to go on a trip to find out what's going on. Naturally they ignore warning notices and trek across rough territory eventually reaching the buildings, one which they break into appears to be an abandoned hospital. Meanwhile, not so alert military contractors discover that there's a security breach. Their HQ implements an extreme prejudice option and dispatches more mercenaries. Yep, the area was used for experimentation on human subjects but things went wrong and a virus went loose in the complex. Rge students start to become ill, not just physical sickness but also becoming violent and acting/speaking strangely. The contractors shoot the first of the group who try to leave. After that it's a battle for survival, they face danger from the vtus, violence from each other and the mercenaries. The back story unfolds through found footage and documents. A dark conspiracy had unfolded in this isolated compound. It would be a spoiler to say any more about that. A decent enough film given its low budget. Directed by Michael Cramer and Troy Scoughton Jr., Written by Michael Cramer. 6.5/10.

Stage V: Who wants to live forever? The search for an immortality drug goes wring resulting in a deadly plague which has wiped out most of humanity in four stages. Only those aged 6 to 19 years old have survived and a it is feared that Stage 5 will also wipe them out. There is both violence and cooperation as the young people band together. An element if caring for the youngest exists but often breaks down. A sort of quest/chase takes place. Disturbing because of the bleak inevitability of doom. A tad reminiscent of On The Beach. Low budget but worth a watch. Directed by Buddy Calvo, Written by Calvo and Richard Dane Scott. 6/10.

Bring Her Back: A dark disturbing film which exemplifies Horror at its zenith. 17-year-old Andy ( Billy Barratt) and his partially sighted step-sister Piper (Sora Wong) are sent into foster care after their father dies suddenly. They go to live with Laura, an eccentric former counselor who also fosters a mute boy named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillip). Laura's daughter Cathy, who was also blind, died by accidental drowning in the backyard pool. Laura is truly bizarre and Andy is alienated by her but has to tolerate her if he wants to become Piper's legal guardian when he turns 18 in 3 months. Social Services will go on Laura's reports. Oliver also behaves strangely, Laura starts to manipulate both Paper and Andy. Also gaslighting Andy and provoking him. We see Laura watching videos of occult rituals. By showing rather than telling the film makes us aware that Laura has a ritual in progress, Oliver is possessed. For the ritual to be completed Laura needs to involve Andy and Piper. DIY raising the dead rituals learned through youtube videos. What could possibly go wrong? Some really gruesome scenes, particularly of Oliver self harming, the violence when it does occur is mostly of the jump scare type. There are other scenes of existential terror which I won't describe but this is not a film for the squeamish or faint of heart. The more prosaic ways in which Andy is gaslit by Laura are also extremely distressing. Sally Hawkins isn't so happy go lucky as Laura, she is both deranged and determined. Also great performances from Billy Barratt and Sora Wong, with 12-year-old Jonah Wren Phillips playing a stormer. Not a film you'll forget in a hurry. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, Written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. 8.5/10.