The plot of this movie is that a highly infectious, particularly gruesome Ebola-like virus (originally designed as a biological weapon) breaks out at an island near Sydney during a rock festival attended by thousands of young people. Like "Outbreak" and other similar movies, we are shown the rapid spread of the virus and the increasingly desperate efforts of the authorities to take care of it.
Cliché themes are included probably because, well, that's what you include in movies like this. The panic. The hysterical girlfriend. The stupidly misunderstanding public. (You'd think people would have seen enough movies like this to understand the danger.) The self-serving hypocrisy of the politicians. There is a good deal of maudlin music swelling during deaths and reunions.
Let's not forget the disease control specialist whose own children are caught up in the outbreak. ("My children are on that island.") The determined mother who foolishly wants to do nothing except join her child. (Why do I always hate these women?) The heroic but stupid doctors who don't protect themselves. (At one point, he touches his face with his bloodied glove!) Occasionally, the movie lapses completely into unbelievability. Conspiracy theory buffs will enjoy this movie.
There is an Australian spin to it all. Cheeky, rebellious teenagers, of course. This is apparently not a country with a slick CDC procedure, if this movie it to be believed. No, in Australia, when this kind of thing happens everyone starts yelling at each other and emoting, television-movie style. Everyone. And the politicians, military and police are all rank bastards. I suppose that's an Australian thing.
Still, I didn't hate it. Once you accept what they're doing, it's easy enough to digest this Australian cheese. Outbreak movies are fun and easy to make, so why not. An added benefit is that you can always lay the blame on an evil corporation, the government or the military. These movies are aimed directly at our modern media-fed phobias about health and the environment.
3 out of 4 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink