Brutal and savage, the film The Human Race enters the video market with its release on DVD. The evil little shock flick is perfect for horror and thrill seekers who like a large dose of chills. The well-acted and directed movie may have some faults, but the action made me cringe from time to time right up to its twisted ending. It’s a one of a kind kick-butt tale that delivers a punch.
The film opens with the rules of a very strange race: “Safe places are the school, the house, and the prison. Follow the arrows or you will die. Stay on the path or you will die. Do not touch the grass or you will die. If you are lapped twice you will die. Race or die”. Flash back and we find Veronica crying over her dying sibling. Weeks later she is informed by a doctor that she has the same rare disease as her sister. Time passes as Veronica takes her prescribed meds and runs to keep her body healthy in the streets of LA.
Shift further back in the past to Afghanistan where Eddie (Eddie McGee) has just had his leg blown off in combat. Fellow soldier Justin (Paul McCarthy-Boyington) pulls Eddie to a cave for shelter. Spring forward and we find Justin now a special needs school vice principal. Still good friends, Justin asks Eddie to come to his school to give a talk on his experience living with a loss of a limb. The two rides home together and get as far as a busy intersection. There are a large number of people at the corner including a hearing impaired couple (Trista Robinson) and (T. Arthur Cottam).
There is a staggering flash and everyone in the area finds themselves at a complex standing in line as a voice comes over the speaker. So beings a race where only one will survive. Director/Writer Paul Hough gets right into his race with people exploding at every turn. He uses his tools to bring the ghastly story to life including some brilliant CGI of the exploding bodies of the losing racers. He stings out his film honing in on his main talent who try different ways to try and save as many runners as they can from death. It’s a brutal fight to the finish. The only downer is Hough’s surprise twist ending that’s okay, but left me a little perplexed.
The actors are right on point, especially McGee who turns on his athletic ability in some compelling action sequences. Even with the loss of limb in real life he shows how being handicapped doesn’t hold him back from being a very good actor. Trista Robinson gives an equally good performance as a hearing impaired woman who has to deal with those who are killing the runners to try to win. She also finds herself at odds with T. Arthur Cottam who does an admirable job playing a deaf mute who goes from friend to foe.
It took three years for Hough to make the film on his low budget. Shooting over the lengthy period has done some damage in the physical film due to changes in climate, lighting and other film related problems. In all however, the film gets so engrossing most everyone will not notice the changes. If there is a drawback it’s the character development in at least 8 of the characters. While Justin and Eddie are fleshed out well, I would have liked to know more about the other six main participants in the race like the two Asian children, the construction worker, the athlete, a homeless person and the surprise of the pregnant woman.
The DVD has a few bonus features of Deleted Scenes and Director and Cast Commentary. The Deleted scenes are interesting, but were not really needed. I listened to the commentary to get the feel of the film and actually it is good. Please do not put the commentary on until you have seen the film and if you want to know how it was made.
The Human Race has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains strong violence including gore, profane language, and a scene of a violent sexual attack. The film does have some subtitles so you can understand the sign language and when the Asian kids are talking. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are very inappropriate for adolescents.
Specifications and additional film information:
- Cast: Eddie McGee, Paul McCarthy-Boyington, Trista Robinson, T. Arthur Cottam and Brianna Lauren Jackson
- Director: Paul Hough
- MPAA Rating: Unrated, contains violence, gore, language and sexual acts
- Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Running Time: 1 hr. 28 min
- Video Release Date: July 22, 2014
- Original Film Release Date: June 13, 2014
- Language: English
- Format: DVD
- Audio: 5.1 or 2.0 Dolby Digital
- Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
- Number of Discs: 1 Disc
- Distributed by: XLrator Media