Isolation

Director: Billy O'Brien
Writer: Billy O'Brien
Released: 2005
Labels: Thriller|Creature|2000's

Bovine genetic experiments at a desolate farm leads to cows with mutated offspring. The result bears a life form with razor sharp teeth and a penchant for burrowing into flesh in order to incubate and feed. Only the handful of people on the farm can stop this nightmarish creature spreading into the outside world.

The premise for "Isolation" sounds laughable, mutant killer cow fetuses, but in actual fact the filmmakers have produced a credible horror and made a comment on modern science practices to boot. The completely run-down desolate farm is the perfect setting for a suspenseful horror movie and the quiet background noises of the wind, rain and machinery are quite unsettling. The film builds slowly at first but gains momentum when we first catch sight of the creatures in question. Some good use of mechanical effects here and much like "The Thing" (which this film has a lot in common) these effects add to the realism, CGI just wouldn't work in this instance.

  

There are only seven actors in the whole film (not including the cows) but the necessary range of stock characters is well-catered for including the obligatory "mad" scientist. There is plenty of body-horror to go with the unending tension, a lengthy and well-constructed finale with plenty of hide and seek action and a decent (albeit obvious) twist in the tale.

This film fulfills its potential and although it treads a well-worn path it does so with a good breath of fresh country air.

Isolation on IMDb

Isolation on Wikipedia

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Black Water

Directors: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki
Writers: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki
Released: 2007
Labels: Creature|2000's

Black Water is based on a true story in which we find three tourists that take a guided fishing trip out to the backwater mangroves of Australia. A large ''saltie'' (saltwater crocodile) attacks the boat and capsizes it, killing the tour guide. The three tourists are left to fend for themselves in the murky waist-deep water, they will have to use their initiative and find great courage if they are going to outwit the killer croc and make it back to safety.

Black Water is an intense film experience, it is filmed fly-on-the-wall style which really puts the viewer into the action. The tension that builds throughout is considerable and that sets you up for the shocks when the crocodile appears. The crocodile effects are completely convincing, as is the acting from all three leads, the performances leave you in no doubt as to the terror that these unlucky tourists are experiencing. This film is an out-in-nature-survival movie that very much reminded us of ''Open Water'' (that one was Sharks), both movies are less about being a ''Creature Feature'' and more about the reaction of humans trying to survive in unfamiliar and threatening surroundings.

This movie is not a ''Jaws'' or ''Lake Placid'' nor does it try to be and it is all the better for it, definitely worth a watch.

Black Water Theatrical Trailer

Black Water Official Website

Black Water on IMDb

Black Water on Wikipedia

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The Breed

Director: Nicholas Mastandrea
Writers: Robert Conte and Peter Wortmann
Released: 2006
Labels: Creature|2000's

The Breed follows the standard horror story-line in which a group of young, good-looking college types visit a remote cabin for a weekends fun. This cabin is located on a remote island, an island that apparently houses a disused laboratory which, at some time in the past was used by evil scientist types to experiment on attack dogs in a bid to create some sort of super-dog. Anyway, the dogs have taken over the island and get really p***ed when people set foot on their territory.

This Wes Craven produced creature-feature actually stands up pretty well, the acting and dialogue are above average, (Michelle Rodriguez is her usual bad-ass self). The action (which takes a little while to get going) rolls along at a decent pace, the ways in which the group try to escape, first the cabin and then the island, are imaginative and believable. The dogs are pretty scary and the fact that they are real dogs and not some CGI monster hounds keeps the film grounded by resisting the temptation to fly off into the realms of fantasy.  The dog attacks and deaths (and there are a few, both canine and human) make you wince in their realism, there are plenty of make-you-jump moments along the way and, it has to be said, some unintentional giggles (swimming dogs just ain't scary!).

If you like man vs beast thrillers (think 'Cujo' or 'The Pack') then this movie will be perfectly watchable and will make a good rental DVD addition to your Friday night in. 

The Breed Theatrical Trailer





The Breed on iMDB
The Breed on Wikipedia


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