Release Date: 21 April 2005


Synopsis :

INFECTION is set in an old, dilapidated hospital that is barely able to keep its doors open to the public due to a constant lack of adequate medicine, facilities, and staff. The hospital is riddled with the agony and suffering of countless patients, and the strain on the doctors and nurses has reached a critical limit.

A doctor’s negligence causes a patient to die and the panicked hospital staff decides to cover up the fatal mistake, setting off a deadly chain of events. Paramedics bring a new patient into the hospital who has been stricken with a virus so horrible and revolting that his internal organs have mysteriously disintegrated. The doctors attempt to contain the virus, but the ill patient escapes through the ventilation system ensuring that everyone inside the doomed hospital will have to fight for their lives from this horrifying epidemic.

Movie Review:

We are often being told of frightening ghost stories or urban legends about haunted hospitals. Life begins with birth and ends with the knell for the sickly patients there is not unusual. A hospital is indeed a suitable setting for a horror movie. A spick and span, brightly lit hospital would not do the scary trick. So under the meticulous hands of scriptwriter cum director, Masayuki Ochiai, we have here a dilapidated, seriously understaffed and poorly financed hospital where “Infection” begins and ends for this pathetic group of medical people, merely made up of 1 nurse matron, 3 nurses and a few doctors. They have to juggle their inner emotions, responsibilities and cope with the constant influx of patients.

No wonder hell breaks loose real soon for these people who are on the verge of breakdown.

Red and green colors are used to differentiate the truth and the falsehood. Familiar color techniques are being adopted as the telling tales of clues. Sudden gales of spine-chilling, hysterical laughter are heard. Mirrors here seem to have life by themselves and reflect another unknown side of you. Gruesome scenes involved so don't watch it unless you have a strong stomach.

A truly horror movie is like “Infection” whereby cleverly and successfully created suspense moments are not lacking, it certainly caused your heart to skip a or even a few beats at the next instant by the least expected appearance, for it plays around with the minds of audience. Well, ultimately, things are not always what they seem to be. No sophisticated computer effects, excluding special make up, is needed.

Audience would marvel at how things are kept ordinary yet with the appropriate timing and sound effects, was sufficient to leave their adrenaline racing. If you are a fan of such, then give this movie a go.

Unlike other superficial horror movies, Masayuki attempts to explore issues of ethics, conscience and human weaknesses. Good effort but a pity is that although its ending is clever with its twist, unfortunately, at the same time, audience like me would mostly likely to leave the cinema either confused or unconvinced.

Therefore, the question is “So is there or not or what?” I still do not know the answer.

Movie Rating: B-



Review by Alicia Tee