The Colony Review - Cannibalism in Apocalyptic Winter Leaves Me Cold

Details

Category: Film

Published on Thursday, 26 September 2013 06:30

Written by Janet Walker

“The Colony,” from RLJ Entertainment and Sierra Pictures, brings to the screen a terrifying fast moving sci-fi apocalyptic winter thriller that captures the breakdown of society, the species and the lengths needed to survive.

“The Colony,” stars Lawrence Fishburne, Bill Paxton, Kevin Zegers,  Charlotte Sullivan, Atticus Mitchell, and Dru Viergever. “The Colony” was directed by Jeff Renfroe and written by Svet Rouskov, Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier and Renfroe.

The premise of “The Colony,” is the repopulation of the human race, in 2045, after apocalyptic winter. Although no story line connects the desolation to global nuclear warfare, clearly there was a major catastrophic event that brought on the freeze. Voice over through the opening scenes offer a simple explanation “One day it started snowing and hadn’t stopped.”

Earth, as we know it, has been destroyed. The winter chill is deep, killing off all plants, animals and humans through a series of virus’ which is where “The Colony” opens.

Another Colony 7 member was quarantined and is not getting well. In order to save the few, the sick and dying must be removed. Sacrifice one for the sake of all. The logic may seem unfair and unrealistic and the same principal has been employed repeatedly, even now, in our most civilized societies.

At this point, Mason played by Bill Paxton, is issuing the final words to the infirmed old man, walk or take a bullet, your choice. Handy with a rifle Mason decides the old man has had enough time to decide. Aiming he kills him.

As time as eroded any conscious, rational or clear thinking, survival is the only thought. A man with a common cold will infect the colony and all could die. Tough times; tough decisions.

Laurence Fishburne, plays the role of Briggs a former Army captain, and is the chosen leader of Colony 7, a handy group of pre-destruction co-op members, storing seeds, nuts, building an indoor animal farm and growing plants to stay alive.

With smaller sister colonies operating throughout the region, ham radio is the new cloud conference platform. This time the airwaves are silent. No response from Colony 5.

A decision is made to send out a recon team, Briggs, Sam played by Kevin Zegers, and Graydon, played by Atticus Mitchell, which leaves Kai, Sam’s girlfriend played by Charlotte Sullivan in charge angering Mason.

The three take the trek, into the harsh cold, blinding snow and subfreezing temps, and along the way, one can gather the destruction, bombed out bridges, families choosing death as an acceptable alternative, and hidden pockets of unknown evil.

Arriving at Colony 5, the three find a single terrified dweller alone with a computer barely able to connect to a waning signal. The three watch in stunned shock as the voice explains the thaw has started and gives the coordinates.

After finding that all save this one soul had been murdered the three decide to continue the recon and find a gruesome, horrifying, grisly discovery.

Food depravation, in post apocalyptic America, has driven pockets of the population into cannibalism. The team discovers the entire Colony 5 has been murdered for their flesh. Panicking they flee the colony and attempt to destroy the hideout. What follows is another battle for supremacy in post apocalyptic new world.

With that said what I found interesting about this film in a post apocalyptic world, the attention to detail in the preservation of food and plant life. The expectation is clear. These individuals knew the thaw would come.

“The Colony,” is filmed in the dead of winter in Canada. The bone chilling cold that is projected is authentic. It also presents a solid argument for Sunlight Depravation as each character, while acting in line with the expectations in a post apocalyptic colonization, the lack of sunlight, food, and plant life has certainly created a feral sub species.

The film presents various levels of selflessness and sacrifice for the furthering and the continuation of society and civilization.

As it is winter the chilling mutilating scenes are somewhat muted against a dark background which lowers the direct visualization of the alarming new world eatery.

As I am not one for horror films, or the films that border on cannibalism and gore horror “The Colony,” would not be a film that I could personally choose to see.

Nor if I were undecided at the box office would “The Colony” be something, simply due to the genre, that I would consider and still “The Colony,” holds the viewers attention, even mine.

If post apocalyptic, end of civilization with the beginnings of a new society, with gruesome, grisly truths of hunger depravation and mental deterioration entice you then “The Colony” is for you.

“The Colony” open nationwide Friday, September 27, 2013.