Pathogen Review

Starring: Rose Kent-McGlew, Tiger Darrow, Tony Vespe, Alec Herskowitz, Rebecca Elliott, Alex Schroeder
Rating: 7/10
Directed By: Emily M. Hagins

Tonight, I had the pleasure of finally seeing Pathogen by Emily M. Hagins. Emily created Pathogen, her first film, at the age of 12. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she definitely caught me off guard with her writing, directing, and filming of this creepy horror flick.

The story centers around a mysterious additive in the public Austin water supply, that affects people in horrible ways. The opening sequence was superb, juxtaposing the innocence of a small girl playing in a sprinkler with the evil you know is lurking in the water. The music track draws you in and I found myself engrossed in the story almost immediately, which is quite rare for me.

Pathogen had several unflinchingly, bloody gore scenes. I loved those, as well as the well-integrated flashback sequence. Since the movie was made on a tight budget, there were a few sound and lighting issues. However, I think the final result was very good and definitely better than some films I’ve seen on the shelves of my local video store.

Most of the main characters are laid-back teens, who seem to take the zombie carnage in stride. The casting of the teens and main researcher was great. My favorite character was Jen. Can you say CREEPY? She did an excellent job! Unfortunately, the math teacher and doctor were less convincing in their roles.

I won’t spoil the movie for you, but know that the final scene and closing track won’t let you down. It’s obvious that many talented people worked on Pathogen with Emily and I can’t wait to see her next film!

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