Biohazardous

Biohazardous (2001) directed by Michael J. Hein.

(MF Title: “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old zombie”)

Starring: Thomas Cahill, Sprague Grayden, Jon Avner, Al Thompson and Will Dunham.

Zombie Film Rating:

Overview: Hillsdale is a busy little town these days, they’ve just had corporate giant Gentech open a research facility in their burb, and everyone wants to check the place out.

The trouble is it’s full of zombies, and getting into the facility is the easy part. Getting out is going to be a right proper nuisance.

Summary: The town of Hillsdale is playing host to a new research facility constructed by Gentech. Right off the mark we are introduced to a number of characters (the religious right, curious cops and trouble making teens), and soon they all converge on the Gentech facility at the same time.

Of course Gentech’s ROTD (Return of the dead? Reanimation of the dead? Republicans of the damned?) program is working on bringing the dead back to life in the hopes of winning a government contract.

The process (as we discover later in the movie) involves not only reanimating the dead, but injecting them with adrenalin to give them significantly more brute strength than your average “shuffling” zombie. The downside, as reported by the scientists involved is that the agent used to reanimate the zombies is contagious, and is spread by exposure to bodily fluids. Their research has also resulting in zombies who are more difficult to destroy than the previous “shot to head” variety. (But I’m getting ahead of myself).

Today is just another day at Gentech, and the staff shuffle off to the “safe areas” while another ROTD test takes place. This time, however, something goes wrong and a gas is released throughout the facility. The majority of the staff are killed and re-animated while Mr. Stine (Lord high corporate uber-mensch) and a few token flunkeys are safely locked in their “safe area”.

Blissfully (if temporarily) unaware of the catastrophe that has taken place inside, members of the religious right have infiltrated the facility in the hopes of getting evidence of Gentechs evil-doings, and unfortunately they discover the truth moments before being attacked, consumed and conscipted by the living dead.

While the faithfull are being consumed, the local police are curious about the goins on at Gentech and decide to pay the place a visit, they notice the absence of the security guard and eventually find their way into the facility (this is a secure facility, right?).

Sergeant Murdock and Officer Walker find the blood spattered room where the Christians were fed to the undead, and realize something is not quite right. They wander further into the facility looking for answers.

At some point representatives of the local youth wander into the facility and are added to the mix. At this point everyone is running around in circles trying to figure a way out of the facility (You’d think with security this tight it’d be a simple matter, no?)

Everyone now seeks to somehow escape from the premises and survive attacks by both the living and dead. In the end all but a few of the youth perish, and the zombies escape to attack a convenience store.

Critique: This is a low budget production, but despite the absence of a hollywood sized war chest still manages to entertain. While the production values are on the low end of the scale, the film is still entertaining (although there are a few points that elicit winces).

As far as zombie movies go this one makes the grade, not my first choice for “Zombie movie of the year” but certainly a worthy addition to the collection. (Even if the Gentech SWAT team irritated me).