Infested

Infested is a 2002 horror-thriller film directed by Josh Olson, and its poster reveals that it is a psychological as well as a creature terror feature. The plot, for instance, focuses on a group of estranged college pals who once again connect for a weekend to remember their friend, Steve that has passed away; however, during their little getaway they realize that their bodies are infested with mutant, parasitic flies turning them into ravenous zombies.

In silence we are forced to bear witness to the profound struggles of our three main characters, each of whom has suffered through depression with their combination of grief and trauma. One thing’s for sure and that’s the group tension was thick, it’s clear the protagonist Warren played Zach Galligan, refused to confront the past in the presence of Bree and a few other remaining friends. All of these elements did lead to an unfortunate turn of events – one too dark even for a film with such a title: parasitic infestation.

As with any other horror film, Infested does include, loss of trust along the journey – seems quite inevitable doesn’t it? But the twist lies in the fact that, hosts retaining a semblance of their former selves. Fighting insecurities and the twisted truth alongside parasites, Warren, Bree and the other surviving group members have to quickly find a way out of the dark, predatory and uncontrollable world the parasitic flies have created.

The tensions between the surviving friends increase in the film when they begin to question themselves, if they can crave the inner parasites out, or if they have been forever possessed by them.

Cast & Crew

Zach Galligan as Warren: Zach brilliantly presents his character as an amalgamation of emotion where betrayal and loss ameliorate with the supernatural chaos happening alongside, gradually helping him transition into an outsider to a leader.

Lisa Ann Hadley as Bree: Brought to life by Lisa Ann, Hadley perfectly captures the essence of Bree, who due to her emotional drought holds the ability to shatter the horror which is building up.

Daniel Jenkins as Steven (flashbacks): Steven’s group was heavily overshadowed by his presence which indicates how he significantly influenced them even in his absence. The performance embellished by Jenkins evinces an appealing magnetism ranging from his voice to the presence of the character.

Nahanni Johnstone as Ellen: Ellen is Stephen’s love interest and after suffering from loss and grief, she feels pangs of guilt which leave her vulnerable to the psychological torment caused by the infestation.

Robert Duncan McNeill as Eric: Eric’s sense of insecurity is complemented with bravado which is fostered due to charm and arrogance by McNeill playing this character; and these features will only make his transformation more hair-raising.

Director: Josh Olson

Writer: Josh Olson

Cinematography: Steve Yedlin

Music: Joseph LoDuca

Themes and Analysis

Infection as a Metaphor for Emotional Decay

In its base essence, Infested is all about how pain that has not been resolved or confrontations that have been postponed start to rot just like a disease. The invasion by the parasites depicts the rot of feeling in the group and how the friends they once loved turned into dangerous unrecognizable versions of themselves, which they truly were.

Trust and Betrayal

The movie also increases the tension by making no one a hundred percent sure who a friend an enemy is. Similar to John Carpenter’s The Thing paranoia starts Flowing into the mix as the survivors wonder if they can actually trust one another or if their friendships had ever been real.

Survival and Sacrifice

Survival has always been a moral gray area. A running theme throughout the series is, themselves having to make hard, heavy heart rending decisions about who is worth saving and who will be thrown aside is always an uneasy and touchy subject often interlaced with the concepts of sacrifice and loyalty.

Grief and Catharsis

They intended the gathering to aid the group in an attempt to move on from Steven’s demise, however, the cherish was reversed, and somehow also attempted to open an old wound. Warren in a very painful way and especially the emotional side portrays a character whose battles are not only against the monsters but also against fear of loss and failure.

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Steve Yedlin does a brilliant job with the cinematography, using shadowy insides with an obtrusive close up of infested hosts to establish chaos. Though the visual effects of the parasitic flies were quite tame to today’s standards, can you imagine how horrifying it would have been seeing disfigured bodies ladened with inhuman expressions?

The film could give audiences a near post-apocalyptic experience with the sheer use of naturalistic settings such as megapolitan inhabitats, alongside sudden bursts of grotesque violence.

Critical reception

The reviews and ratings given by critics ended up being a mixed bag, as some appreciated the blending of various horror sub-genres while others deemed those very low potions and uneven pacing to be unforgivable.

The film has been classified as “a character-driven horror film with psychological underpinnings and an emotionally unsettling center,” by Variety.

Fangoria’s classification stands in stark contrast to that made by Variety as they believe the film “is mired by overused and oversaturated creature feature clichés and fails to find the right balance between gore and cheesiest.”

However, the movie still has garnered a cult following, all because of its unique themes and strange charm.

Audience Appreciation and Overall Rating

Infested has a low IMDb rating of 4.2 out of 10. Its reception is polarized to quite a great extent; For some people the premise and the subtext was intriguing, but some believed the movie to have an extremely low-budget feel and campy in nature. However, the movie tends to be enjoyed by fans of offbeat horror when they seek for intriguing plots that revolve around unique emotional affairs.

Zach Galligan has received much audience appreciation due to the nostalgia attached with his character in the movie. The horror genre fans have deemed his performance over Gremlins as top-notch. Yet many argue that the emotional turmoil after the shocking demise of character, Steven, could have been better portrayed with more involvement from other characters.

Final Remarks

Although Infested is a bit out of the box for the horror genre, it surely puts up an ideal story filled with betrayal, grief and a hint of guilt when the characters are faced with a parasitic invasion. Yet, this plot would not sit well with people who enjoy a high production value in their horror movies. But Infested makes up with an engaging story, filled with dark tones focused on survival, emotional release and self-destruction. Infested is ideal for pessimistic readers as it portrays an emotional plot focusing on the monsters within us.

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