Isolation

Isolation (2005): True to its title, the plot of this intense little thriller isolates the cast from the outside world. The small cast is facing a crisis, that if not solved could cause the end of life as we know it, but it takes a while until the realization hits home. The cast includes the much needed mad scientist, a shapely veterinarian, a farmer and a pair of young lovers in hiding. While the cast is small, mortality is high. The movie is set on an Irish farm where our mad scientist is running some genetic experiments to increase growth rates of calves and things don’t go quite right during the first birth. Suspense is effectively built up as the plot progresses and true to good old movie strategy; you are not shown the ‘thing’ until the end and you never get a really good look at it. But in this movie they are not trying to scare you with rubber clawed giant chickens. You are required to use your imagination to conjure up a picture of what the group is up against. And remember, having a mad scientist on your side is not always a plus, young lovers are not always rational, and farmers don’t always understand mad scientists even when they are right. Put all this together and you get a real shoestring operation to save the world. With an apparent low budget this little movie delivers a good punch of suspense without many special effects but contains very effective use of mud and slime. This is a recommended selection for suspense/horror aficionados. The movie is not rated but would probably grow a mutated R for: massive leaking roofs, multiple rubber boots, massive mud trudging, multiple cow bowel excisions (ugh), nipping fetuses, winching birth, exploding cows, multiple hammers to multiple heads, way too toothy slugs, a drowning tractor, and for the giant hole in the back of the veterinarian.