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Overall Rating : 4.5/10
Directed By : Joe Dante
Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV) )
Elliott Gould (American History X) Kerry Norton
Brenna O'Brien (Max Havoc: Ring of Fire)
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : May. 25, 2007
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| PLOT When a virus overcomes the male population of the United States and turns them into murderous psychopaths, a mother and daughter escape across a country where their safety is in question. |
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| THE REVIEW In Joe Dante's short film, THE SCREWFLY SOLUTION two Scientists named Alan and Barney, whom work for the Centers for Disease Control, have been studying a species of flies known as the Cane fly. In their findings they have discovered an enzyme in which the flies posses that causes them not to mate - so imagine what it would be like if someone, or something figured out a way to trigger this in the human race. Well that is exactly what happens in the latest short film contribution to the MASTER OF HORROR series from Dante. Alan and Barney the two partners find themselves in a struggle to find an answer to a plague that is seemingly turning the nation's Male population into vicious lady killers And the strange part about it is that the men that have been over-turned by this, are citing scriptures from the Bible, stating that God told them to commit these crimes - is it really "the man above", or is it some greater power from another world? Last year for MASTERS OF HORROR's Season one, Director Joe Dante contributed the politically charged thriller, HOMECOMING. While some thought the film was very brave and touched on an issue some wouldn't dare touch Dante did, and HOMECOMING proved to be a great film. This year he returns once again with a film even more daring in THE SCREWFLY SOLUTION. The plot which pits the male human race in a scenario in which they hunt and kill only females, could be seen as something morally wrong, and is likely to get any feminist group riled up. In fact this film was even written by a feminist named Alice Sheldon, a feminist in her own right, often operated under the very male penname of James Tiptree Jr. The episode starts off by showing a brief educational film, of the history of the Screwfly(they are called Cane flies later in the film for some reason). It explain's that the flies usually lay their eggs with dead livestock, or within the wounds of living ones, and when hated they would eat their way through. This was shown to demonstrate how the plague would later eat it's why through humanity I suppose, but really does not to display this very properly. Since it's never really explained well, and the men seemed to be "possessed" out of nowhere, it's really confusing to grasp at first as to what the screwfly has to do with anything in the story at all. The film is very well done and actually looks and feels like a full-length feature, that has been cut down leaving various highlights, The overall balance of the film however, is half and half, the first half seems to take focus on the plague and how it is conquering the nation and the religious angle was heavily portrayed. For the second half, the religious gimmick is simmered down a little and more focus, is brought on Alan, his wife and daughter, leaving less focus on Barney and the nation for that matter. This is not necessarily is a bad thing, the family angle was meaningful and aided the film in producing a more dramatic purpose as Alan begins to fall himself to the plague and go after the 2 females he loves the most. I just feel that too much time was given to one area of a great story, leaving the rest to be sort of buried and under developed - one thing in which, was the character of Barney, whom I feel should've been better displayed as he seemed even more knowledgeable on the situation than Alan was. The acting was just ok to me. Everywhere else i've read has praised Jason Priestley for a great performance, while I thought it was good, it wasn't great - just average. I will say t hat when his character of Alan began to turn for the worst via the plague, the look in his eyes was dead on perverse as he grabbed his own daughter. Elliot Gould, whose starred in films such as OCEAN'S ELEVEN is also here as Barney. Barney is Alan's partner at CDC. and when the whose thing begins to take over the nation's men and heighten their mating instincts he also shows that he is a man with homosexual tendencies.(when the surviving males on the planet begin to go the route of chemical castration to prevent the plague from taking them over - he gladly says he won't be needing it) As I touched on earlier the character of Barney is really likable and at some points even a bit of comic relief, but I feel the character not to mention Elliot Gould's talents were a bit wasted as Barney was focused on far less than he should've been. I liked the film, but only certain parts of it to be exact. I feel the plot and the general point of the plot was a little stronger in the beginning half hour, and then it begins to lose steam slowly after. THE SCREWFLY SOLUTION is still a good film to say the least, but it just not a steady effort from beginning to end unlike the director's last season effort. |
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| GORE
METER 4/10 The gore is sparingly used, but it is violently brutal when it. is, we have multiple bloody stabbings and a broken neck from what I can recall. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 2/10 To be honest I don't remember any of the score at all except maybe for the tunes that accompanied a few scenes, and I could only describe it as being mildly suspenseful. to me it had very little impact, or else I would've been able to remember it. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Some liked Joe Dante's last entry HOMECOMING. some didn't. It seems that the one's that didn't are favoring THE SCREWFLY SOLUTION as being the better film, but I am the opposite here. Yes THE SCREWFLY SOLUTION is superb visually, (and for some reason reminds me of the 1993 remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS remake titled BODY SNATCHERS) and it delivers a message much like Dante did the last time,except, it loses steps while getting there - however I would still recommend this for being one of the better MASTERS OF HORROR episodes I have seen. This DVD will be available June 12, 2007 |
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