Infested: Invasion of the Killer Bugs

Amazon.com

If a cross between Night of the Living Dead, The Big Chill, and countless killer bug movies sounds like your idea of movie magic, then director John Olson's Infested is for you. On the other hand, if compelling storytelling, convincing special effects, and good acting are among your criteria for a positive cinematic experience, well... When a gang of thirtysomethings gather for the funeral of one of their own, things soon go really, really wrong when swarms of extremely nasty flies start using our heroes as hosts, eating them from the inside out (which means we don't actually see it happen--a good move for a low-budget film!). Where did these infernal winged wonders come from? What's their agenda? Infested eventually provides answers, but it ain't worth the wait. Indeed, movies like this only make you long for the guileless camp of '50s sci-fi, and that's no small feat. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Infested, or a sharp stick in the eye? Take the stick........2006-08-24

Infested (Josh Olson, 2002)

It's really kind of impressive that a movie this bad doesn't get shelved somewhere along the line. And yet here it is, in all its painfully cheesy glory, on my screen, daring me to turn it off. I almost gave in to the temptation, but I kept watching. For you, dear reader, so I can give you a full account of the true horror to be found here-- the ninety minutes of your life that you will never be able to get back if you rent this movie and sit down to watch it.

The story, what there is of it: A number of friends show up at the estate of one of their high-school buddies, who's killed himself. There's all the post-funeral bonding stuff, and everything's looking remarkably Big Chill when things go horribly, horribly wrong thanks to vicious, genetically-altered flies that possess humans and turn them into soulless murderers. Yes, you got that right.

As usual, the only reason to watch a movie like this is the cheesecake factor. Any Jo Johnson plays the dead guy's girlfriend (well, ex, I guess), and there is an obligatory scene where she shows a whole lot of skin. It is not, however, an out-and-out nude scene. Sorry, guys. There is also the gorgeous Lisa Ann Hadley (General Hospital/Port Charles), who's really starting to look like Kate Hodge. (This is a good thing. A very good thing.)

You're certainly not watching for the special effects, (amateur even by microbudget-indie standards), the acting (atrocious), the script (even worse), the direction (competent at best), the cinematography (ditto), the soundtrack (cheesy early eighties pop that should have faded into obscurity years ago), or, really, anything else. So it's gotta be the cheesecake. And that's all well and good, but you can do that on fast-forward. I strongly suggest that route. At least you'll waste less time on this. (half)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made.......2005-11-05

Just sealed it for me when Amy Jo Johnson grabbed those two cans of insecticide and yelled "Hey!!!" A truly great cinematic moment, ranks up there with Kurosawa, Kubrick, Bergman, Werner etc etc.

Big Chill with bugs.......2004-11-11

A friend dies and all his old friends who have not seen each other in years go to the funeral, then to stay with each other in a remote house. Yes it has already been done. But in the other movie, how many people where then taken over by bugs and given (almost) eternal life? Bugs that evidently absorb their intelligence. Bugs that allow them to fall off a 2nd story roof without injury. Bugs that give them the power to climb that roof with a broken leg that prevented them from doing more than crawl before the bugs entered them. Bugs that allowed them to barely pause when they are impaled with a tire iron. Bugs that allow them to live on, and apparently see well enough to avoid torches swung at them, after decapitation.

The special effects are nothing to rave about and the blood looks painted on, no body to it and it was too bright a shade of red. The story was fairly predictable, especially the final scene. The scene where a guy who carved his own skinless leg with first a knife, then a razor, then dumped hydrogen peroxide on it and barely grimaced was not particularly believable.

Despite all that, I found it all entertaining and worth a N-flix rental :) Would I ever buy it? Heck no, having seen it once I can't imagine watching it again would cause me to have any sudden revelations.

Does RAID work on killing DVD's too?.......2004-07-21

Ha! Ha! Ha! (i'm really laughing, it's not sarcasm!)

Maybe it's because i didn't pay to watch this movie (if that's what you wanna call it..a movie!) and my friend did! Ha! ha! HA!

Okay, i'll try to be serious and tell you what to expect from this piece of garbage film...terrible acting, terrible story, the worst special effects i've seen since the 1980's , and what else...hmm..let me think...oh yes, 1 hour and a half of looking at your tv screen wondering "What the hell is going on?"

That's all for me, if this review doesn't convince you to not watch this movie, then nothing will..ENJOY this stupid bug film and when it's done, watch it again and again and again and again and....

Trash, Waste Time.......2004-05-30

Perhaps I might have a high expectation, but correct me if I am wrong, this movie is quite bad. Besides the poor low-tech special effect, those actors and actresses really seem not knowing how to act. The plot doesn't make sense and never explains the cause and effect of the flies. This is a movie will make you shake your head at the end.

Average customer rating:

Infested
Starring: Zach Galligan , Daniel Jenkins , Mark Margolis , Robert Duncan McNeill , and Jack Mulcahy
Director: Josh Olson
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000K7UHDS
Release Date: 2007-01-30