Larva (2005)

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Is this a horror film or sci-fi? Or maybe it is a not-so-subtle dig at the evil corporations that are forever riding roughshod over us little people in their relentless search for profit. Let's face it, nobody ever lost any friends for railing at big business, heck, even businessmen have bought into this narrative to some extent.Here we see a new vet arriving in a small town that is on the cusp of a farming revolution, only thing is the company that is backing it has somehow created a mutant parasite that infects not only the new feed but the cattle, and then morphs into a giant bat, or something of that nature. Naturally our idealistic newcomer and his allies are engaged in a desperate rush to quarantine and destroy this pest before it takes over the state and the world, while the agents of the wicked corporation are intent only on hushing the whole thing up lest news leaks out and everybody turns vegetarian. And of course, the wicked capitalists have also succeeded in corrupting the local law enforcement. As fairy tales go this one is fairly anodyne, that's if you don't read between the lines.

Genetically engineered feed(..to enhance the meat from cattle) has given birth to parasitic larvae, drawn to blood and grow / evolve at an alarming rate, bursting from their animal hosts seeking further nourishment from humans in a small town whose business directly comes from the beef bred by local farmers.Business-as-usual in regards to this Sci-fi channel creature feature which treads all too familiar ground. Decent cast. David Selby(Dark Shadows)is Fletcher Odermatt, the executive who operates the business, Host Tender Meats, which profits and benefits from the meat supplied by the farmers in his rural area. William Forsythe is Jacob Long, a local farmer who doesn't appreciate how his town has surrendered their livelihood to Odermatt, one of the only citizens who sees how corrupt Fletcher really is. Vincent Ventresca is a beleaguered scientist, Dr Eli Rudkus, seeking to re-establish his tainted reputation due to a miscalculation caused in a recent case which resulted in massive profit loss..but, when he notices the unusual larvae's attraction to, and sudden growth from, blood(..opened from an accidental cut to Rudkus' finger), Eli might just restore his name while saving others in the process. Eli's good will might find resistance due to Fletcher's power and influence over the town, further aided by his intelligent attorney, Hayley Anderson(Rachel Hunter). But, once the large parasites begin bursting from the bodies of both cattle and humans(..those humans who ate meat with larvae, that is), Eli will join forces with Jacob, hoping to discover a way to kill them off before the creatures find their way out of the town possibly endangering others as well. Soon, Hayley will see the error of her ways, tagging along with the boys.As is typical with these kinds of films, Fletcher will pay the ultimately price for his misdeeds and Jacob will concoct a plan to draw the army of larvae parasites into one location(..amazing how these movies always find a way to draw the swarm, of whatever creatures inhabit a film, altogether in one location so that they can be destroyed). Some good bursting scenes enhance this otherwise average sci-fi flick. Forsythe is a welcome presence, but Ventresca and Hunter add little value to their roles.

Ugggggghhhhhh.Why did i watch this.One night, very bored i decided to watch a thing on the sci-fi channel called; The Scariest Night On TV. First film showing was Larva.What a waste.The film starts off with a new vet arriving in a town called host. But a parasite is lurking in the towns meat and cows. People who have eaten infected meat soon start growing the parasite within them, when the parasite is fully grown they burst out the chest. (No i actually don't see any resemblance to alien what-so-ever.) First of all the CGI is crap. It's clunky,fuzzy and drab.The creature design was a mess like c'mon, the parasites look like drapes or rugs.The acting is hammy.Ladden with plot holes.

Although the characters were well written and they had fun. What they wanted is another "MAD COW" scare and I'm not sure how true the MAD COW thing was or how much was hyped up by rating grabbing TV news. Anyway, let's see what else is wrong with this. Why did the parasites live though the cooking process? Also, I would assume that healthy cattle would have parasites. I might be wrong on that. Also, where the FDA during this? As far as I know the FDA has to test all new hormones and drugs before they would even dream of allowing human testing, so where was the FDA, and why didn't Dr. Eli Rudkus call them on the matter. Finally, allot of stupid little things that didn't make sense, one, the husband called his wife at home on her cell phone. Big company owner can't afford a house line? Two, after removing her bra a creature pops out of her boyfriend's stomach, so in a mad panic, she puts her bra back on. I'm sorry, who bothers to dress in a screaming mad panic? But there is some clever writing and a good cast. There are some good stuff in this movie, but it's hard to see under all the cow pies. I give it 4 STARS