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Actor Jason Conner’s, (son of Sean Connery and Diane Cilento) directorial debut,
Pandemic takes us to Diablo County, New Mexico where local vet Sydney Stevens
(Alesha Clarke) has been confronted with a virus that seems to have spread from horse
to man, a virus that causes massive bleeding and a very quick and red masque death.
The army quickly arrives on the scene to quarantine the town and stop the spread of
the disease but is that really their motive? Pandemic soon turns paranoid and with
good reason. Phones are down, internet services cut, soldiers are checking IDs,
waving guns at locals, and refusing to let anyone leave. Meanwhile people are
dropping down dead.
Local conspiracy nutter Spencer (Pete Holden) takes Sydney aside and spills the beans,
“Diablo County is a testing ground!” Or is it? Is he nuts or are we for believing the
government is here to help? What started out as just another TV midday movie soon
surprised me with the tension slowly ratcheting up, the paranoia seeping in and a
couple of big twists that I really didn’t see coming. With well known face Ray Wise as
General Matthews and some pretty decent acting by Clarke and Holden this almost gets
away with what is really not a great movie. The soundtrack is incredibly intrusive and
the direction at best adequate but the story slowly builds, the reasoning becomes
sound and hell, we’ve seen before that you can’t trust governments (Maralinga
anyone?). Unfortunately a really dumb ending with a dog cheapens the whole thing
and almost ruins the movie.
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A screener but very 80s direct to video look at times. However to be fair, the harsh
lights and dark scenes work in Connery’s favour.
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Shocking! The soundtrack booms out but then you can’t hear a word anyone is saying.
Constantly had to fiddle with the volume control.
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No comment.
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Looking and feeling like an 80s Midday movie at times, this isn’t a great film by any
means, hell, it’s a shocker at times but if you persevere it soon gets going and once
that feeling of paranoia and distrust takes over you’ll find yourself wanting to see what
happens. And there ain’t nothing wrong with a healthy distrust of your government!
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