If I’ve said once I must have said it a thousand times; Direct to DVD horror films are a dime a dozen. The market is full of them; some are real gems while the majorities are duds There is a market for them; a lot of people will enjoy anything that has a decent looking box cover and a good synopsis. An idea that looks good on paper, has to be good on film, right? Unfortunately, that is never the case, and this film, Virus X falls into that category.
Virus X is a film about a mutated version of the H1N1 virus. In a secluded lab a group of scientists are being held in quarantine after purposely being infected with the new strain of H1N1 virus. Dr. Gravamen (Joe Zazo) is in charge, under orders from a mysterious women and a guy that looks like a cross between Otis from House of 1000 Corpses and Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Dr. Gravamen infects his fellow scientists with the hope being able to research the disease more and to see how to develop a vaccine. However, things begin to get out of hand as the virus takes over the scientists. Some of them develop zombie like symptoms where their flesh begins to rot and they become killing machines.
The concept for this film was not really that bad, but the script was nothing great. The script is all over the place and while the characters are developed well, the story is full of too much explanation and the action is basic. There really is nothing that is original here; it’s a story that has been played out before. Another issue I have with the film is its production value. I don’t know what the director was aiming for, but what’s up with the use of gels? Some scenes are completely blue or red, with others being your normal camera shots. Some of the scenes are also too dark. In all the colors are annoying and they add nothing to the feel of the film other than confusion. The acting in the film is not half bad, although some performances are over acted, but I guess it should be expected with a low budget b-movie.
The DVD does have a few special features which include interviews with the films Director and Cast, a trailer Gallery and optional English and Spanish subtitles. The film itself is presented in widescreen format with English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio.
Overall I see Virus X as a film that tries to capitalize on the fear of the H1N1 virus. It reminds me a lot of a film that would make its premiere on the SyFy Channel on Saturday night. It does have some decent make-up effects and gore, but other than that it’s not that great of a film. Virus X is a film for people who really enjoy low budget b-films about a virus gone wrong. It’s a film that the majority of horror and science fiction fans will most likely not care for. Fans of old Science Fiction might look at it as a film similar to the b-movies of the sixties and seventies. However, in the end, I can’t recommend it. I don’t think it’s a film that your basic horror of science fiction fan is going to sit through.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
