Reviewed by Carol Sullivan
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Released: June 10th, 2008
Rating: R for some violence, sci-fi horror visuals and brief language
Director: Richard Jefferies
Starring: Johnathon Schaech, Erica Leerhsen, James McDaniel, Jason Wiles, Terence Jay, Charissa Allen
Studio: Image Entertainment
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Terror Takes Root...
Organizm, written and directed by Richard Jeffries, is a surprisingly good Sci-Fi Channel movie now available on DVD. Unlike many of the cable network's disappointing films, this one did not have me groaning and searching frantically for the remote control. Though the special effects are definitely lacking, this science fiction film actually has an interesting story line and some good acting. Read on...
The movie begins as we join Frank Sears (Johnathan Shaech, Prom Night), a New Jersey biology teacher as he drives towards New Mexico and the army base at Fort Lambert. Seems his mother, before she shot her husband and then herself, carved into her son's palms some terrible information. "S-3" on one palm and "V-12" on the other.
During the Cold War, scientists had created the ultimate biological weapon. When it got out of hand they buried it. Where? On Sublevel 3, Vault 12. Frank warns the army personnel not to disturb this vault during the base's decommission, but of course they do, releasing the terrible organism that's been buried for decades.
This root-like biological entity's only job is to take over; swallowing towns and townsfolk alike; it grows at an alarming rate and is unstoppable. Can a simple biology teacher and his new ally, a haz-mat member named Carrie (Erica Leerhsen, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003) find a way to stop it?
I found Organizm to be pretty darn entertaining, though I did catch a couple of big bloopers. Supposedly this whole thing started back in 1958, and they mention it repeatedly. Then, at one point in a conversation with a local, Carrie and Frank refer to 1959 as the start of the trouble. Soon enough, they refer to it as 1958 again. Not a deal-breaker, but I was surprised that no one on the editing team caught it. Then, later in the movie, they need a projector to view an old 8mm movie and the 9-year old girl with them says, "Oh, there's one at my school." Soon they arrive at her school, but it says "High School" above the door. She's about 6 years too young to be attending high school, folks. Again, not a biggie, but I thought it funny.
I was glad to see that the folks at Sci-Fi stepped up a bit and got some good actors for this movie and Writer/Director Richard Jeffries does deliver a good, plausible story. Though I would have liked to have seen some better special effects, the story line does keep you guessing. Organizm, while not a blockbuster hit, is a worthwhile rental.
Overall Rating: 2 1/2
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