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EDITOR'S PICK
'The
Lazarus Effect' - not worth resurrecting (IANS Movie Review)
Rating:
*
Jesus Christ! What a waste of resources and energy for a horror about raising
the dead.
Edgily balancing between the science fiction and horror genres, 'The Lazarus
Effect' is a poorly crafted film that has nothing original about it. And, the
execution of the idea is both ineffectual and lethargic.
Set within the confines of a laboratory at St. Peternus University in Berkeley,
California, the story follows a group of four medical researchers lead by Fank
(Mark Duplass) and his fiance Zoe (Olivia Wilde). The quartet are working under
a grant from the college to experiment with something that could revolutionise
the mechanics of modern science. In their endeavour, they develop a serum that
could bring the dead back to life.
This revolutionary experiment would definitely benefit humanity, but
unfortunately, how their plans go topsy-turvy, forms the crux of the narration.
While this brief may sound interesting theoretically, director David Gelb's work
of art is disappointing.
The first act of the film has verbose exposition where characters rattle off
their frustrations spouting cliches and technical terms, creating a chaotic
conflict which is unclear. It is only after the initial experiment when the dead
dog comes back to life that the flow of events and narration is comprehensible
to an extent.
In the second act, when Zoe accidentally dies and is later revived, strange
things begin happening to her -- she can move objects through telekinesis, and,
this being a horror film, she's possessed by the sudden desire to murder
everyone around her. Simultaneously, we are bombarded with the leitmotif of
Zoe's haunting vision which involves a little girl helpless to rescue a family
from burning to death. These scenes confuse you further.
Also, the abrupt end makes the film look like like an incomplete work, concluded
hurriedly.
These turn of events on screen does not speak too highly about writers Luke
Dawson and Jeremy Slater's screenplay. Every scene, whether it is a mere
exchange of dialogue between characters or a setup to a creepy jolt, is without
ambition and the film drags through a series of foggy and irrational plot points
that lead nowhere. It offers no insight into the premise and lacks any
indication to the goal.
While the actors labour hard to give life to the characters, the underdeveloped
character graphs do not support them. Overall, the acting is functional without
any chemistry between actors. Olivia Wilde as Zoe has a meaty role. Her
transition from a researcher to the subject of the research to the demonic beast
is commendable.
Duplass as the careless lover and overtly ambitious nerd is natural. Their two
colleagues; Donal Glover as Nike who has a soft corner for Zoe and Evan Peters
as Clay along with Sarah Bolger who plays a damsel in distress, videographer are
all too restrained.
Technically, the quality of the visual effects is above average but oft seen and
forgettable.
Effectively, 'The Lazarus Effect' is not worth your leisure time.