BIOPHAGE (2010)

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

For an ultra low-budget zombie movie this particular one really wasn't that bad. At least not in comparison to the majority I have seen currently out in the market today. Filmed in black-and-white this movie essentially begins after an infectious disease referred to as the "phage" has caused most of humanity to revert to flesh-eating zombies. It is at this time that we are introduced to the two main characters named "Sgt Cain" (Ron Marnich) and "Dr. Bell" (Aaron Jackson). Both work at a medical research laboratory called Mt. Bethel and they have been ordered by their boss, "Dr. Miller" (John Yost) to scout out a nearby hospital to acquire some badly-needed medical supplies. In the process of their mission we learn that Sgt Cain has had an affair with Dr. Miller's wife "Julia Miller" (Kristin Pfeifer) for which Dr. Miller holds a great deal of resentment towards Sgt Cain. Likewise, it appears that Sgt Cain still has an attraction for Julia even though she apparently wants to put the affair behind her. In any case, while this sub-plot has great relevance the main problem both Sgt Cain and Dr. Bell have to contend with is the zombies and, interestingly enough, the humans they come into contact with. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that with what few resources the director (Mark Rapp) had at his disposal I believe that he managed to craft together as good a final product as anybody could have possibly produced under the circumstances. Further, although the actors were certainly not household names both Ron Marnich and Aaron Jackson--and to a lesser extent Dawn Ali (as "Bianca")--performed in a fairly decent manner. Even so, taking everything into consideration, this film is still not in the same league as the average zombie movie produced in Hollywood. Again, it was an ultra low-budget production and the lack of adequate resources clearly showed. That said I don't blame the director or the actors for this fact. Quite the contrary as I believe they should be commended for their efforts. However, as mentioned earlier, this film simply doesn't compare to those with much larger budgets. As such I have rated the film accordingly. Below average.

Obviously the other reviews are fake. Comparing this piece of crap to other movies (not just great zombie movies but just ANY movie) is a true shame.The acting is the worst I've ever seen, especially Sgt Cain, I hope this is his first and LAST acting job. He was truly horrible.I respect and often like low budget movies and have no problem with some flaws but this one is a true nightmare, most irritating is the acting and the dialogs are predictable and meaningless. The story itself is slow and going nowhere. Do not waste your time!Hope and strongly suggest the people involved in this movie find another hobby.

Zombie movies come in all shapes and sizes these days, but few have anything new to say about the genre since George Romero single handedly moved the Zombie film from fringe horror flick to state of the art social commentary. Moreover than any other area of horror, the zombie film has its severed fingers on the pulse of a civilizations plight. In the latest entry, Director Mark A. Rapp introduces us to a hybrid Zombie/Buddy film that uses the dilemma of two survivors as fodder for a deeper discussion of humanity after the apocalypse. In Biophage, two men, Sgt. Cain (Ron Allen Marnich) and Dr. Bell (Aaron Jackson) are returning from a mission to the CDC in hopes of stopping a deadly viral outbreak that has infected most of the Earth's population and turned them into mindless flesh eating monsters. Those humans that remain have either a natural immunity to the virus or are being treated with an experimental drug to halt the transformation effects. What remains of the world and the people who populate it are at the center of what Biophage is about. This is not your common zombie film. Rapp uses the plague to dissect how human beings would cope with a total shutdown of societal rules and morals. How would we react if freed of all the trappings of propriety? Those of you looking for flesh munching, brain bashing, bullet-ridden bodies are in for a rude awakening. While the film features some pretty skillful zombie make up and a few brief feasting scenes the zombie is only a secondary character in the film, as our heroes must struggle not only with their inner demons but a host of rather unpleasant encounters with survivors, who have, for lack of a better term "gone ape sh*t". Shot on the cheap, for a mere $10,000, Director Rapp makes the most out of his use of 16mm film to approximate a gritty black and white world where the many shades of gray echo the stark reality of the times. In addition to the solid direction, Rapp, along with Kirk Hazen provide an equally impressive and intensely haunting musical score. The measured simplicity of the piano often punctuates the bareness of the countryside with relative unease. It is rare that an independent film has such an effecting score and I tip my hat to the filmmakers for recognizing the importance of music in creating a foreboding atmosphere for their film. In terms of performance, Marnich and Jackson each prove firm, if not exceptional, in their turns. Each seeming more at ease when tossing remarks off the cuff than when delivering more somber arguments. A case in point sees the characters arguing over the viewing of a video taped suicide, Jackson's instance of avoiding the viewing is wooden, but his beat deliver of "do you like snuff films?" has exactly the right amount of human sarcasm needed at that very moment. Shooting a picture on film with a restricted budget severely limits most filmmakers in the number of takes that can be shot, simply due to monetary constraints. I suspect that case to be true with respect to Biophage, but it is important to note that I never felt pulled out the film by a poor line delivery. Overall Biophage is an interesting addition to the world of Zombie cinema, and in keeping with the traditions of making a relevant statement within the film, I think that writer/director Mark A. Rapp has crafted a substantially appealing and entirely valuable work of art. by T.W. Anderson

Directed by Mark A. Rapp/Hard To Get Productions A plague has rocked the world. Zombies thrive and man tries to survive. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It's the basis for many zombie films we all love. A smart filmmaker takes this formula, adding his own twist and storytelling to it. Mark Rapp is a smart man.The CDC is trying to find a cure. The few survivors are either immune or injecting themselves daily with an experimental drug they hope will ward off the sickness. Mobile One is trying to return to Mt. Bethel before all supplies are gone. Our plot unfolds, insanity runs amok as man's greed, betrayal and instinct of survival rules.I think, first, I have to warn you. This is not your standard brain munching film. Don't expect mobs of flesh hungry walking dead, buckets of oozing intestines and a blood splattered screen. Rapp instead has given us a suspenseful, psychological thriller. This is it. This is the end. Our last few human survivors. Will they succumb to man's self destructive fate, destined to wander a deadened world? Rapp makes you ponder your own morals and question just how far you would go to live in a vanishing world.It's rare these days I can find a film that makes me think. A film that makes me question myself and whether I would do right by my morals or do they change once society no longer exists? After all, in the end, you only have yourself.Shot in black and white, the style of the film works to intensify the story. It is a bleak time for mankind. Zombie make-up is above average for a low budget film, done by Make-Up Supervisor Steven F. Clark and Key SPFX Effects Make-Up Evolution Effects Studio, Inc. To be honest, I usually don't pay much attention to the musical score (by Kirk Hazen and Mark A. Rapp) unless it irks the crap out of me, or stands out for some reason. And I am not a wizard when it comes to music, but I do know it heightened my film experience.Acting is also above the norm with marvelous performances by our leads Ron Allen Marnich and Aaron Jackson. I would have liked to have seen Dawn Ali get more screen time. It's a shame her skills were not put to better use.This is the first non-gore zombie film I would ever recommend to my readers. Currently seeking distribution, keep an eye out for this gem in the future.by Eve BlaackNOTE: Since this review, BIOPHAGE has found distribution with Midnight Releasing and is available online and in selected stores.