So … what would actually happen during a real Pandemic? The movie of the same name tries to show a possible scenario in a unique point-of-view (POV) perspective.Pandemic is set in the near future, where a virus of epic proportions has overtaken the planet. There are more infected than uninfected, and humanity is losing its grip on survival.
Of course, the hope for finding a cure and keeping the infected contained is the one thing keeping everyone going by the time we are dropped into the plotline. There is no real explanation as to how the virus began … and so the beginning of the film feels more like middle of the story.
Shaky beginnings aside, once you actually get rolling, the action centered around the present starts to take shape. Paul Guilfoyle (Colony) plays Dr. Greer, who walks newbie doctor Lauren (Rachel Nichols) through the containment facility when she first arrives in LA from New York.
Lauren is tasked with leading a team to hunt for and rescue uninfected survivors, but her team has other ideas that side track the group into a deadly ambush … and a terrifying discovery as to how the virus is mutating even more in its victims.
From there it is a game of cat and mouse as one by one, each member of the team is faced with a life-altering encounter with the infected “stage fivers”. You might say they are something like zombies, but nooooot quite.
Actual zombies or not, this scary lot is not something you want to be caught by unawares. They will kill you faster than you can blink if you aren’t careful.
I would like to say this was an amazing film, but at best it was mediocre. The entire production seemed like it was just a piece of a story. There was no true beginning or end. Both of which were equally dissatisfying.
That is not to say Pandemic was entirely bad. It has some good qualities to it that make it worth a viewing at least once if you are a fan of jump moments as there are quite a few of those. They do have quite a few scenes where the sound and the editing work well together to provide those moments where you have to catch your breath or you hear yourself saying “whoa” as you raise up from your seat just a little.
If you’re a big fan of gore you will most likely be pleasantly surprised by the many gems in the movie where no expense is spared when it comes to blood, smashing of heads or gauging of eyes.
One performance of note (and really the only one that merits a mention) is Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones, John Wick). He plays a convict that has been enlisted to drive the team through the treacherous streets of the dead or dying. He proves to be a worthwhile character and makes each of the sequences with him in it more enjoyable.
As far as the POV perspective of the film, it is actually an interesting take on a zombie-esque movie. It is rather like watching a horror genre, first-person shooter on Twitch live. If you enjoy watching video-game play, you will probably like this angle in Pandemic’s unfolding.
Overall, I’d say, as long as you are not looking for a great story or amazing acting … and just looking for something to get a quick thrill here and there for a binge on scary movies or a Halloween night’s movie binging … you won’t go wrong checking this movie out at least once.
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I write like I think—fast, curious, and a little feral. I chase the weird, the witty, and the why-is-this-happening-now. From AI meltdowns to fashion glow-ups, if it makes you raise an eyebrow or rethink your algorithm, I’m probably writing about it. Expect sharp takes, occasional sarcasm, and zero tolerance for boring content.
