PATIENT ZERO

UK, 2018, 93 minutes, Colour.

Matt Smith, Stanley Tucci, Natalie Dormer, Clive Standen, Agyness Deyn.

Directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky.

The term Patient Zero emerged during the 1980s in the context of AIDS and the search for the origin of the spread of AIDS in North America. Which means that this title is initially misleading.

This time there is a world plague situation, originating in America’s midwest, a plague of rabies, the film initially indicating billions being infected. There is a parallel to the zombie infestation. However, the infection turns the humans into angry creatures, but still with their memories, able to communicate.

This is a British production, filmed in London, with a mainly British cast, but (perhaps for the wider American audience) set in the United States, with lead Matt Smith having to use an American accent.

While there are scenes of mayhem, crowd scenes, individual scenes, the rabid victims biting and infecting others, much of the action takes place in special and secret laboratories, militarily guarded, where doctors try to find an antidote. In charge is Dr Rose, played by Natalie Dormer. But the authorities are relying on the skills of Morgan, played by Matt Smith, who has been bitten but has not been infected to his detriment. He interrogates those infected, trying to find out where they came from, locating patient zero. He himself is sometimes angry and the interrogations, confronting the angers of the victims, playing music which torments them, erratic in his confrontations.

There are members of the staff, one cheerful member being bitten and having to be shot. The military official clashes with Dr Rose, eager to shoot those infected than help with any investigations.

At the centre of the investigation is the Professor, played by Stanley Tucci. He is not like the others, is not tormented by the music, and, while disfigured in his face, is able to explain his memories, philosophise about the nature of raging humanity, tell the story of his infection and his killing of his wife and daughter. He turns the tables on Morgan by explaining that those infected are looking to him as Patient Zero for their future.

There is some final mayhem, an escape sequence, Morgan helped by his infected wife who sacrifices herself – but, there is no definitive ending, all open-ended.

1. A plague film? Rabies infection? Human transformation, rage? The parallel with the zombies?
2. The American setting, yet a British production, the cast, Matt Smith and American accent? Credibility?
3. The situation, the explanation, the search for an antidote, the search for patient zero to help determine the antidote? The isolation, the laboratories, protection, armed guards, the cages?
4. The background, scenes of infection, mass scenes and rage, individuals in the cage, the treatment, communication with them, the physical effects, psychological effects, the torment of the music? The attacks, the biting, the military and the shootings?
5. Morgan, his being bitten, not infected, his abilities with those infected, communicating with them, treatment, tactics, stand over tactics? The issue of his wife, in the cage, his love, support? His working with Dr Rose, collaboration, the sexual encounter, consequences?
6. The attitude of the military, the commander and orders, Knox, brutal, confrontations with Dr Rose, the infection of the genial worker, the effect, seemingly saved, the break out, his being shot?
7. The range of those interrogated, the past, their lives, explanations, attitudes?
8. The professor, his personality, arrogance, the flashbacks to his life, the lectures, the phone call, the outbreak, the students, the attack on him, returning home, his wife reassured, finding the blood, his attack on her, his daughter, killing his family?
9. His cold presence in the laboratory, the interrogations, his philosophising, about human nature, rage? His declaration that Morgan was really Patient Zero because he had survived despite the infection, and that those infected were looking to him to change them for the future?
10. The confrontation with the professor, his death?
11. The attack, Morgan and his decisions, Knox killed by Dr Rose, taking his wife, the warnings, his wife sacrificing herself? The escape with Dr Rose?
12. The unfinished ending? Speculation as to the future of the human race?