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Overall Rating : 3.5/10
Directed By : Bill Corcoran
Tara Reid (American Pie)
Jonathan Scarfe (Judas (TV) )
Aaron Pearl
Corbin Bernsen (The Dentist)
Supplied By : Genius Products
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : October. 2, 2008
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| PLOT A group of genetically enhanced vipers are on the loose after a break-in at a medical research laboratory. They don't just bite. They eat. Reproducing at a rapid rate, they now outnumber the locals of a nearby remote island who have barricaded themselves in an increasingly vulnerable hotel. With help on its way - or not-- the lone survivors have one chance to stay alive: make it to the shore--and fast. |
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| THE REVIEW In VIPERS, Universal Biotect, a scientific corporation, has been conducting research involving horned viper venom to cure cancer. The said vipers have been altered genetically in order to produce more venom for further study and use. It does indeed help them in their fight for cancer, but in turn it also makes them hungrier, and yes more dangerous - just how dangerous? Well the residences Eden Island are just about to find out. A horde of the genetically altered reptiles end up escaping, and before long, they begin to feed upon anything that crossed their slithery paths. Among the locals of Eden Island are a divorced couple, their teenage daughter, the islands one man Police force, the island Physician, and the island's resident plant expert(who also specializes in growing pot). Joining them would be a young doctor named Cal, who is also set to replace the islands current doctor - let's just say that Cal's first day in Eden doesn't go so swell, as he probably would've never guessed that fighting super snakes would be part of the jon Description. With VIPERS, RHI and GENIUS PRODUCTS continue their on going series of "creatures gone wild" flicks under the "Maneater Series" banner. I am not sure what number release this is for them(i'm pretty sure it's the 10th Maneater Series release), but I have so far seen and reviewed all of them. Thus far, they have covered just about every creature known to man - so up next is one of the most obvious of choices not yet covered, but has been done many times over.....the subject of snakes. Yes, snakes. No not genetically altered bees or crocodiles.....but super fast genetically altered horned vipers. Snakes seem to be popular in Horror, more recently they've been in both planes and trains, and perhaps the subject was largely mad popular by ANACONDA - who coincidentally has a third sequel that has recently aired on SCI-FI CHANNEL(i'll be reviewing it's DVD soon). It should be known that VIPERS isn't exactly original, and that's apparent from the very beginning. Let's see, it's plot involves a bigwig company that does research, research that just so happens to involve a genetically enhanced something or other(it can be anything). The subject creature escapes and predictably some humans are put under attack by them and they must find a way to get rid of them in a limited time frame. In VIPERS, the time frame idea is emphasized when it's revealed that the CEO of Biotect, plans to gas the island utilizing an illegal biological weapon, rather than saving anyone - the typical double cross switcheroo, something we have all seen in these movies. Beyond the typical snake movie, VIPERS goes out of it's way to create relationships with the characters, the Sheriff is now in relations with the female divorcee, While the male Divorcee is in a fling with a blonde local, and in the midst of the separated couple is their angst riddled daughter. We also have the budding relationship between Cal the young Doctor, and plant enthusiast Nicky. Their relationship is further cemented by a back-story that involves Cal's years as a Marine and Nicky's ex who died while serving. From the start it's obvious that Cal is meant to be Nicky's love interest, he served as a Marine, and was even by Nicky's ex's side when he passed away - so yeah, he is the cliched "comfortable. With that said the relationships sort of help keep the film together, but not by much, because be on them, VIPERS is just another, "when CGIed snakes attack movie". Speaking of the snakes themselves, I have to be honest when I say that the CGI snakes are pretty bad, they are unrealistic and unbelievable Aiding in their unbelievably are some overreacted reactions to the actual snake attacks, some of the actors' movements, when being attacked are premature, while other times slightly over done, Overall, VIPERS is not a complete waste of one's time, as it does pass the time. But like many movies of this kind, it's subject matter in interchangeable, meaning, that chances are you may have already seen a very similar plot, but instead of being vipers, it could involve just about any other species. |
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| GORE
METER There are many scenes with lots of blood splatter and snake bites, some scenes also display the snakes eating away at the flesh of a dead victim. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3/10Typical jungle/adventure themes....it was ok, but not that great. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM VIPERS is your typical SCI FI CHANNEL film, it's also a film that lightly touches base with it's characters but is clearly more focused on the snakes that are the centerpiece of the film. To sum it up, VIPERS is not the greatest film, but technically I have seen far worse, so that should count for something. |
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