‘Doomsday’ is not terrific, but fun

New on DVD

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By Dane Mannina

New to DVD this week is box office mega flop, “Doomsday.” Only managing to make a paltry one third of its original budget, “Doomsday” barely spent a month in the theaters. It is, honestly, not the best film of the year. In fact, it’s not anywhere near even close. However, this action-packed ride is pure fun from beginning to end.

When a potentially world-decimating plague erupts in the dregs of Scotland, the world panics as no cure can be found. Their answer: build a wall around all of Scotland to keep the infected from spreading the dangerous virus to the rest of the planet. The wall is constructed and the population is left to die, along with the Reaper Virus. However, 30 years later the virus is spotted again, this time in England. The British Prime Minister and his cabinet disclose that there are actually still signs of life beyond the wall in Scotland’s Hot Zone, which implies that somehow a cure prevailed. The government sends in a Special Ops strike force to obtain the cure that might save England from the same dismal fate of its northern neighbor. However, upon going over the wall, the team finds that there is much more living in the dead zone than they bargained for…

A crazy mix of every apocalyptic movie you’ve ever seen, “Doomsday” pays homage to such greats as the “Mad Max” trilogy, “Escape from New York,” the “28 Days/Weeks” franchise, “I Am Legend,” “V for Vendetta,” and the “Resident Evil” trilogy all at once, among other films. “Doomsday” is more like a two-hour identity crisis more than anything, but I’m more than willing to forgive the chaos and weak storyline in lieu of the awesome visuals of the post virus-destroyed Scotland. Although the writing was sub-par, true creative genius shows through in the design of the decimated landscapes and unique costumes of the denizens left behind after the Reaper Virus annihilates much of Great Britain.

A noteworthy aspect of the film is the special effects concern with precision gore. This film boasts some of the better blood-vomiting-head-exploding-body-dismembering scenes in recent film history. Maybe if the money men behind this project spent a little more on a better script and a cast above the C-list they might be able to whip up a second installment, as the ending is left completely open for a sequel.

“Doomsday,” although not in the Oscar race this year, is still worth checking out as it will surely find a place in the cult classics archive for years to come. This film is definitely the perfect pick to accommodate a pizza and a six-pack on a good ole’ fashioned guy’s night.

Originally Published: Issue 701 - August 19, 2008

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