The workplace can be a jungle of uncertainty. Especially in
competitive office spaces where even the smallest moments can unravel into
failed promotions and blacklisting, jobs can seem almost deadly. Whether it’s
dealing with annoying and sometimes manic coworkers or an infuriating boss,
some offices are unbearable. Capturing this are a recent string
of workplace horror films, most recently done in Mayhem.
Starring Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Mayhem follows
an unfairly fired employee of a large white-collar corporation where a
virus that causes you to act out your worst impulses is released into the air
system and the entire complex enters lockdown. Mayhem works through
some cheap ploys with poignant and campy comedy and fantastic acting. Other
actors include Samara Weaving (The Babysitter), as Yeun's character's
love interest, Steven Brand (Teen Wolf) as the buildings big boss
figure, and Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux) as a cut throat coworker.
The film's strengths most definitely come in its crazed charm.
Despite at times feeling strikingly similar to The Belko Experiment
Yeun and Weaving are each powerhouse performers who ooze both chemistry and
personality. Even the obtuse and over-the-top side characters like the one
played by Chikezie or her assistant are entertainingly juicy. The cast oozes
cheese and whether or not it's intentional, it certainly works in favor of the
film. Had things been so serious and glum, the resulting product would not
be nearly as enjoyable or worthwhile.
For fans of The Office or any of a number of shows or
movies covering the very serious lives of coworkers in an office, Mayhem is
a true change of pace. This isn't a soft workplace comedy or a serial drama. Instead
it plays like a comic; consistently gritty, but with a sense of graphic-novel
novelty. The premise is simple but the execution is all too delectable, making Mayhem
worth the mayhem. 6 out 10.
If you're like the millions of people who wait day-by-day for new episodes of The Walking Dead, then these moments of lull can feel desperate and empty. In fact, even if you're not a fane of the program, but still love zombie films and all things post-apocalyptic, the wait period between new material can feel endless. Rest assured though, more is coming and more will continue to come. The subgenre is perhaps the most profitable due to it's escapism aspects and there doesn't seem to be any shortage of potential with the subgenre. Queue the release of Here Alone; a perfectly well done, heartfelt film that'll appeal to broader audiences and fans alike. It's sad, it's unnerving and best of all, it's suspenseful.
Here Alone
follows a young woman's fight for survival a year after the world is destroyed
by a virus. The film stars Lucy Walters (Power) as Anne, the woman
central to the story, Shane West (Nikita) as her husband, Adam David
Thompson (A Walk Among Tombstones) as Chris, a man Anne comes
across on her journey, and Gina Piersanti (It Felt Like Love),
as the man's would-be stepdaughter, Olivia.
Beautifully shot in Upstate New York, Here Alone begins
as a stark portrayal of life in the wilderness. Viewers enter into Ann's life
unsure of what had happened, only that the difficulties she has faced have led
her to the dismal conditions she finds herself in. There are flashbacks showing
her husband and baby, but similar to many movies like it, it's easy to tell
that they're no longer with her, a definite bid for audience's sympathy (a
tactic that, time and time again, works).
Here Alone is
a more subtle film than the nonstop action so well known to the post-apocalyptic
subgenre. However, it offers more than its fair share of vision and suspense.
The introduction of the unseen monsters in the woods alone is enough to cause
pause, as Ann ventures into an abandoned home in search of food. And, when she
eventually gets caught on a fence, the short moment will dole out goose
bumps. This theme of subtlety continues as we witness flashbacks to Anne's
eventual solitude, a brief climactic encounter in the woods and the perfectly
paced climax.
The one flaw, more like a thorn in the side than a fatal blow,
is the slow start of young actor Piersanti, who unfortunately comes across as
more unsure of her role than unsure of how to live through the troubled times
her character faces throughout the first half of the film. But, even this is
overcome by the midway point when a dare leads her into a lake to swim and she
unfolds as a character to care about. In fact, by the midway point, all three
of our central characters matter and will inevitably pull at the heartstrings
of audiences.
While never groundbreaking, Here Alone accomplishes
enough in its character study of survival instincts to not be diminished
by its conventionality. As far as post-apocalyptic films go, this one is far tamer
than most others. Reminiscent of Into The Forest, Here Alone is
mostly quiet, but not to be underestimated. It's an interesting film that puts
viewers in the shoes of its characters and for that, it deserves some
recognition.
