Customer Reviews

Infested

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The script outrageously lifts the opening set up from " The Big Chill" until the swarm of mutant flies shows up and attacks the cast. Thats right MUTANT FLIES! The problem is that flies are not scary at all they do not have the shriek factor of spiders, scorpions or roaches. The terrible CGI effects do not help- there are a couple of effective suspense moments-but most of the action takes place in daylight which deminishes the scare factor.

Zach Galligan's acting career peaked with "Gremlins" and its sequel. Since then, he's done mostly straight-to-video horror and sci-fi schlock, including getting top billing for "Infested." After viewing "Infested," I can definitely say that Zach Galligan's resume is not going to gain any more prestige from this straight-to-video horror-satire fly-zombie flick.

I've read some prior reviews of "Infested." Some people absolutely hate the movie, saying it's a horrible excuse for bad CGI work and an inane, boring plot. Other reviews see it as a great example of social satire wrapped in a silly horror movie. I fall somewhere in between.

The first half of the movie is actually fairly entertaining. After a rather amusing graveside service, a group of old college friends gather at the home of their recently deceased former friend. They hang out, talk about the good old 80's (!) and regret their choices in life. It's all very reminiscent of "The Big Chill."

To gauge the tone of "Infested," one can reference the scene in which a character proudly holds up a .45 record, saying, "Does anyone remember these?" He proceeds to play the record and, instead of a golden oldie, we're treated to "Da Da Da," the song by Trio that gained popularity by its inclusion in a Volkswagen commercial! It's a silly song, a "classic" for this group of socially-stunted individuals who pine for their former glory. Dammit, it's funny.

Of course, a movie about killer flies wouldn't be complete without the killer flies. They eventually make their appearance (after a very gratuitous breast shot of a thirtysomething woman) and the fun turns to horror--albeit for about 15 minutes of the movie.

In this 15 minutes or so, we see several nice "ewwww!" scenes, including a girl getting blood puked on her, a decapitation after a severe and squirting neck wound, a crowbar through the side and a really nasty leg infection with flies growing in it. There's also a shower scene (sadly, no nudity from cutie Amy Jo Johnson of "Felicity" and "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers") replete with a swarm of flies. The dialog is appropriately goofy, including such memorable ones as "They don't strike me as ordinary flies." Dammit, it's funny!

So there's the first half of the movie. I was fairly impressed at this point. I mean, sure, I knew it wasn't going to win any awards, but it was cruising along nicely. The direction is serviceable, the acting was pretty darn good (from Galligan, the aforementioned cutie Ms. Johnson and Robert Duncan McNeill of "Star Trek: Voyager") and the gore effects were pretty impressive.

However, about 45 minutes in (30 minutes of "The Big Chill Redux" plus 15 minutes of the fly attacks), the movie quickly goes downhill. The majority of the last half of the movie involves the surviving characters fending fly-zombies off with torches and running around outside and inside the house trying to decide what to do. There's no suspense, and the comedic element is gone for all practical purposes. The gore is non-existent as well. In addition, there's a "surprise" revelation toward the end which is relatively boring and cringe-inducing. I have a pretty good feeling that it was supposed to be played for humor, but it was only worthy of a yawn.

One other note: Zach Galligan is a decent enough actor. In addition, He's a pretty nice guy. I actually talked to him one night in 1986 or so as he was waiting for a cab on 86th and Broadway in New York. So my advice to him is simply this: get a new agent, buddy. You deserve better.

First half of the movie: 4 out of 5 stars. The last half of the movie: 1 out of 5 stars. As a result, my final rating: 2 out of 5 stars. Rent it.

I cannot believe I actually bought this DVD after reading everyones ratings ! lol
I live in the uk and ordered it from Amazon.com... I put it on last night and fell asleep after 30 mins (can't believe I lasted that long).
If you want a funny film buy Camp Blood or Killjoy (both are really bad films but contain bad acting), this film has good actors and tries to be dung and funny and it does not work, its just boring.
Sorry to seem a bit of a killjoy myself but wouldn't want to see anyone step into the same trap as me, I do enjoy dung films but I have started to try and improve my collection as I have had enough ribbing from my mates for a bad collection, this is bad !
I have Bloody Murder 2 on order ! Didn't realise it was related to Scream Bloody Murder (how thick of me!), can't wait to watch that !!!

Just sealed it for me when Amy Jo Johnson grabbed those two cans of insecticide and yelled "Hey!!!" A truly great cinematic moment, ranks up there with Kurosawa, Kubrick, Bergman, Werner etc etc.

Ha! Ha! Ha! (i'm really laughing, it's not sarcasm!)

Maybe it's because i didn't pay to watch this movie (if that's what you wanna call it..a movie!) and my friend did! Ha! ha! HA!

Okay, i'll try to be serious and tell you what to expect from this piece of garbage film...terrible acting, terrible story, the worst special effects i've seen since the 1980's , and what else...hmm..let me think...oh yes, 1 hour and a half of looking at your tv screen wondering "What the hell is going on?"

That's all for me, if this review doesn't convince you to not watch this movie, then nothing will..ENJOY this stupid bug film and when it's done, watch it again and again and again and again and....

Infested (Josh Olson, 2002)

It's really kind of impressive that a movie this bad doesn't get shelved somewhere along the line. And yet here it is, in all its painfully cheesy glory, on my screen, daring me to turn it off. I almost gave in to the temptation, but I kept watching. For you, dear reader, so I can give you a full account of the true horror to be found here-- the ninety minutes of your life that you will never be able to get back if you rent this movie and sit down to watch it.

The story, what there is of it: A number of friends show up at the estate of one of their high-school buddies, who's killed himself. There's all the post-funeral bonding stuff, and everything's looking remarkably Big Chill when things go horribly, horribly wrong thanks to vicious, genetically-altered flies that possess humans and turn them into soulless murderers. Yes, you got that right.

As usual, the only reason to watch a movie like this is the cheesecake factor. Any Jo Johnson plays the dead guy's girlfriend (well, ex, I guess), and there is an obligatory scene where she shows a whole lot of skin. It is not, however, an out-and-out nude scene. Sorry, guys. There is also the gorgeous Lisa Ann Hadley (General Hospital/Port Charles), who's really starting to look like Kate Hodge. (This is a good thing. A very good thing.)

You're certainly not watching for the special effects, (amateur even by microbudget-indie standards), the acting (atrocious), the script (even worse), the direction (competent at best), the cinematography (ditto), the soundtrack (cheesy early eighties pop that should have faded into obscurity years ago), or, really, anything else. So it's gotta be the cheesecake. And that's all well and good, but you can do that on fast-forward. I strongly suggest that route. At least you'll waste less time on this. (half)

well, it's not about to win any oscars, if only because those only go to the mainstream (how boring!), but hey, it was funny. and i think, really, that that was the point. honestly, how many movies are scary enough that they don't even approach laughable? um... none i can think of... if only because laughter is what keeps things from getting too scary.

and that's what makes real horror-satire so difficult, and so wonderful when it's done right. of course, asking me to be objective about anything involving robert duncan mcneill is akin to requesting i cease breathing, but never mind that. rdm aside, the sheer irony of this piece is fantastic, as well as the casual dropping of one-liners, of both biting wit and silly understatement. in short... well... it's FUNNY.

as to the actual flies, i don't know, maybe it's some sort of metaphor. it's really inconsequential. the gore scenes are beautiful in that holy-grail-fruit-punch-blood sort of way; the only one that had me cringing was the scene in the bathroom with the razor and the fly-ridden leg. ouch, as well as yuck.

basically, if you enjoy serious drama and lack a whimsical sense of humor, go elsewhere. likewise if you take everything seriously. if you enjoy being highly amused and cheerfully poke fun at society in general, buy it.

"Infested" is not poorly made, although the fly effects are far below today's standards. It's just that the movie makes no sense. We never find out why the flies are capable of doing what they do; how do they keep these bodies alive and moving? And why exactly does the villain do this? It's all muddled, but a few tense scenes and some good use of social comment (this is a satire on "The Big Chill" of course), make this a little better than most.

Get out your bottle of RAID folks, cause it 'reviewin' time!

When the death of a man brings a group of friends together, they spend the day at the dead man's wie's house. It's an old house but something is lurking around it...killer CGI bugs!

It seems that our group is being attacked by mutant flies that feast on your insides (literally-you see them eat your heart and everything) and stay there as protection. The only way to kill them is by sunlight or one big bottle of RAID. And the bottle's empty....and the sun is setting soon.....

Yes, it was filmed in my home town. A girl or 2 I know are extras in it. No biggie. The film is good, but the terrible CGI effects make it a waste...almost.

RECCOMENDED TO FANS OF:
Ticks (1993)
The Birds (1963)
Piranha II (1981)

THE CAST
Zach Galligan .....Warren
Lisa Ann Hadley ..Ellen
Daniel Jenkins ....Steven
Amy Jo Johnson ..Jesse

THE MOVIE: 3/4

THE PICTURE QUALITY: 9/10 No grain but in a 1.85:1 non-anamorphic trasfer.

THE AUDIO QUALITY: 8/10 2.0 Stereo surround was fine. Too bad there wasn't a 5.1 to go with all those flies buzzing around.

THE SPECIAL FEATURE: Several trailers

SUBTITLES: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Korean, Portuguese, Thai.

Worst upscale or whatever transfer I've seen on a bluray for a long time. oversaturated colors and contrast-sharpness like a good video-tape... unbelievable. and although there are only flies when its a monster-wasp on the cover the film is a decent c-movie and good for laughs. the cgi are so awful...hahaha. rent dont buy.