This Toxin Circulates Too Slowly: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: an unfinished online screener was provided by the director.

Director/writer: Jason Dudek.

Cast: Taylor Handley, Danny Glover, Vinnie Jones and Margo Harshman.

Toxin is the latest film from director Jason Dudek. The film is a dramatic science fiction thriller, involving the use of viruses. Lacking any real horror, the film focuses on dramatic elements as Dean (Taylor Handley) struggles to keep his friends alive. Very slow in its delivery, Toxin builds towards a fairly predictable climax. The outcome is slightly flat. As well, characters act unbelievably and possibly suicidally. Toxin is an indie film that lacks polish in the script and onscreen.

The film begins with Dean. He has returned from a tour in the Middle East. His friends gather together for a party and later a camping trip. But, Grandma needs Dean's help. Soon, the group of friends are heading up to Grandma's house, with the first act focused on her ability to hoard. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, an underground laboratory is using Granny's house to test a deadly virus. Granny's immunity keeps her kicking late into the picture, but Dean's friends are more susceptible. Soon, Dean is squaring off against the scientists, living below ground. The end results are a little lackluster.

Granny's House Hosts More than Black Mold.

The film blends several genres. But, this title is really a drama, at its heart. The first half of the film is focused on the interactions between Dean, Gran and the other friends. A concerned girlfriend, Mandy (Margo Harshman), laments about Dean's changed ways, after his return from warfare. Later, Gran and Dean talk about grandpa and his loss. Few of these interactions add very much to the film. Instead, they truly slow the film down. As well, there are science fiction elements here. Scientists work with beakers and bacteria. They work for a gruff boss, who wants results. Dean and co' are used as their guinea pigs. These science fiction elements are secondary to the dramatic ones. Horror and thriller elements are relegated to a few action sequences, which are quickly forgotten. The dramatic elements slowed the film to such a result that it is a drag to watch in parts.

The pacing does pick up at the halfway mark. By this point, some viewers might be wondering why they are sticking with the film. At the 50 minute mark, it becomes obvious that the friends are dealing with an external threat. Their response involves fighting a few soldiers and infiltrating the laboratory. These scenes create a stronger tempo. But, this late change in tone and action does not help the film much overall. Toxin is too slowly paced.

Also, the characters' actions often come across as unbelievable. Mandy realizes that a virus has infected one of her friends and black mold covers the walls. Yet, several of the characters remain in the home, to their own detriment. If you had just entered a rundown home and become infected with a virus, would you not want to get outside? The characters don't come to any such realization. In a later scene, Dean needs a serum to help one of his friends. The serum lies below, in the laboratory. But, Dean delays his actions to find the serum as the character begins to die. Would it not be better to take action and quickly? These examples and a couple more really drained the film's immersion, for this viewer. Without immersion, the enjoyment factor went down considerably.

Toxin is not a film for horror fans. More dramatic than the average film, Toxin stalls in the first act. By the time it finds its wheels, a lot has been lost along the way. The climax gets events rolling, with Dean facing a crazed scientist. But, this conflict is slightly predictable and overdone. In the film's favour, there are excellent performances here and a couple of strong characterizations. Interactions between the characters are often believable. And, the settings are well dressed. Overall though, Toxin misses a chance to create a thrilling feature, by focusing on too much drama.

Overall: 6.25 out of 10.

A trailer for the film can be found here:

A Toxin Trailer on 28DLA


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Posted in: 2015,drama,infection,movie review,science fiction,story,synopsis,thriller movie review