VIRAL

US, 2016, 85 minutes, Colour.
Sofia Black- D’ Elia, Analeigh Tipton, Travis Tope, Michael Kelly.
Directed by Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman.

Viral is a small budget brief horror film about town being infected – a variation on zombie themes. It has been directed by the makers of Catfish and other television programs.

The plot is fairly straightforward. The focus is on a small American town, scientific experiments, classrooms, the young girl being infected, spraying blood on a student trying to help her – and the infection spreads.

On the human level, the focuses on two sisters, Stacey (Analeigh Tipton) is provocative with a touch of rebellion. Emma (Sofia D’ Elia) is younger and steadier. She is attracted to Evan, Travis Tope, who lives across the street. Michael Kelly plays the scientist father. There is trouble in the marriage but he goes to the airport to bring his wife back home where they are stranded.

Most of the action takes place in the sisters’ house, the authorities telling everybody to stay inside, patrols collecting infected people and dead bodies. Stacey wants to go out to a party and persuades Emma to go – but there is mayhem. Stacey is infected and Emma, with the help of Evan, boards up a room, quarantines Stacey whom she feeds. She also goes back to studies and the classroom experiments and is able to withdraw the poisonous worms from her sister.

There is a touch of romance, there are more than touches of desperation, the authorities coming with a flamethrower and destroy parts of the town (with the couple diving in the swimming pool for protection). Stacey, at the urging of her father, finds his gun and is able to use it on a neighbour who is threatening Emma. Eventually, Emma uses it on Stacey.

Just a small variation on a theme.

1. The popularity of zombie films? Infection and quarantine films? This is a small variation?

2. The American town, homes, streets, schools, classrooms?

3. The special effects, the infected men and women, appearance, behaviour? The musical score?

4. The focus on Stacey and Emma? Their father, the mother away, the tensions between their parents? The father at school? Science experiments? His going to meet his wife at the airport? Stranded? This message about the car?

5. Stacey, rebellious, with her boyfriend and his tattoos? The kisses? Emma’s reactions?

6. The class, Grace, sick, in fact, spraying blood? The hospital? Her possible recovery?

7. The spreading of the infection, the worms entering into people?

8. Quarantine, Stacey and Emma at home, Stacey wanting to add to the party, persuading Emma? The party, the young people, mayhem? Stacey and the betrayal by her boyfriend? His later coming to apologise? His death?

9. Emma, attracted to Evan, Stacey urging her on, the left home, his father and his tour? Evan coming across during the quarantine? His help?

10. Stacey, surviving, the infection, Emma boarding her up? Studying the books, extracting the worm?

11. Stacey, still infected, the gun, the threat to Emma and Stacey shooting? Going to the house, Stacey wanting Emma to shoot her? Her death?

12. Emma and Evan on the roof, the flames, diving into the swimming pool? Surviving?

13. A small variation on the theme?