Movie Review - Doomsday

Just got back from an advanced screening of Doomsday. I figured it wouldn't be that great because I had really only seen the one trailer for it and hadn't read anything about it, either. I knew that it starred the bad girl hot chick from Nip/Tuck and that it had something to do with a virus and a quarantine of a town and that was about it. So I really wasn't expecting much. And the only reason I decided on this movie instead of Never Back Down for the midnight showing was because the other one would fit better with the movie schedule for tomorrow's lineup.

Basic plot is that on April 3, 2008, a deadly virus they named The Reaper Virus swept thru Glasgow, Scotland and in no time flat, everyone was infected in that area. It was a flesh eating virus that was airborne, so the government decided to build a 30 foot wall all around Scotland and the people inside the wall were promised that help was coming for them. And they even numbered on the outsides of houses how many members were in each so that the medical teams would be aware. However, there was never intention on helping them, just quarantining them so that no one else would get infected.

A woman with her young daughter in her arms was able to get thru and asked if the soldiers could take her daughter and protect her, so they did and the woman was left to die with the rest of the infected.

Flash forward to the present, 2035 (don't remember the month, sorry) and you find out that the young girl that was rescued is now an elite member of a military team who are sent into the quarantined area because the government has been monitoring inside the wall for all these years and within the last three years, there have been signs of survivors. Now that The Reaper Virus has shown up in another area, they need to figure out what allowed these people to survive so that they can create a vaccine and/or a cure for this deadly virus. However, once inside, the team finds a group of people who have turned cannibal and do not take kindly to intruders, so finding the cure is not going to be the easy task that they thought it would be and seeing as there are hundreds of the survivors and only a handful in the team, getting out alive is going to be the biggest challenge.

This was actually an excellent movie! I can see how some of the reviewers said it was similar to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome because the survivors inside the wall had similar attire to those characters and they had gladiator type setup for everyone's entertainment where there is a fight to the death - armed bad guy vs. unarmed good guy. There was a really cool car chase and lots of action....and QUITE a bit of carnage; so, suggestion, if I may...while this may seem like a great popcorn movie, unless you have a REALLY strong stomach, I would advise against eating any food while viewing this flick. I have a pretty strong stomach (what with growing up around ER and CSI and Nip/Tuck - and all those stupid Faces of Death movies that my then-boyfriend wanted to watch) and I ended up setting the bag aside after only having had a handful or two of popcorn. I would recommend, though, a drink and several pieces of chewing gum. So that when the intense scenes pop up, you're not left with a dry mouth.

There were a few "yeah, RIGHT!" scenes like why would anyone even attempt to try to climb up a 30 foot metal wall? And why, if after being secluded for decades with nothing to eat except each other, would there be ANY fat people?

I should probably also mention that the main lead, Rhona Mitra, could easily pass for Victoria Beckham...yep, dead ringer...even has that crappy long hair on one side, shorter hair on the other...what is UP with that style, anyway? And there is a little nod to Bionic Woman, but I don't want to spoil anything, so you'll have to find that out for yourself when you see it. And you will definitely want to see it.

Not for the little ones...not even one scene. Between the flesh rotting corpses, the up close and personal gunshot/arrow attacks, the disturbing torture scenes, and all of the excessive language, I can't think of one single 5 minute moment that would be appropriate for the youngsters.

This one you really do need to see on the big screen. It will be enjoyable when it comes out on dvd, also, but for maximum enjoyment, see it at the theater first.

Great acting, lots of surprises around every corner, lots of eye candy, and a very satisfying ending.

If you like sci-fi action thrillers with a great plot and twists everywhere, this is the movie for you.

Vixy :]