Animal Rage (1988)

Animal Rage: Directed by Vittorio Rambaldi. With Patrick Lowe, Cheryl Arutt, Sarah Buxton, Mitch Watson. A scientist at a Florida university inadvertantly creates a “rage virus” while performing experiments intended to restore dead brain tissue in baboons. When a journalist for the college paper breaks into the campus lab, he’s bitten by one of the infected baboons; the virus soon spreads to a trio of rapists and a valley girl, all of whom go on killing sprees.

“Virtually a little unknown b-grade campus-based oddball shocker thatu0026#39;s efficiently catered for, but doesnu0026#39;t break any ground with its unspectacular story structure (written by Umberto Lenzi) and systematic thrills, despite its unsparingly nasty tone (which goes overboard in the filmu0026#39;s last 30 minutes at a Halloween party) and suitably icky if makeshift make-up FX and special effects (done by Carlo Rambaldi who did such films like; u0026#39;Planet of the Vampires (1965)u0026#39;, u0026#39;A Bay of Blood (1971)u0026#39;, u0026#39;King Kong (1976)u0026#39;, u0026#39;Possession (1981)u0026#39; and u0026#39;E.T (1982)u0026#39;). While two different films, the way the story flowed kind of had me thinking of the 1989 sequel u0026#39;Gnaw: Food of the Gods IIu0026#39;, but this one wasnu0026#39;t that shonky and campy. Again thereu0026#39;s a focus on a cringe-worthy 80s tune, which oddly makes it way in the opening credits (which will have you thinking what am I getting myself into?) and then during the Halloween costume party as the band is performing live. Oh good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story sees two college students Sam Nash and Frank Duffy working as journalists for the campus paper, where they suspect a professor there is doing inhumane animal experiments in the quest to restore dead brain cells. So Frank sneaks into the laboratory one night to take pictures, where he encounters a very aggressive baboon that in the process of breaking out bites him. Slowly he begins to feel the effects, he starts forming ugly looking sores and then uncontrollable bursts of raging violence takes over. Soon the virus begins to spread leaving a bloody trail and Sam along with his girlfriend try to put a stop to it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAfter quite a slow-going set-up, it goes on to build up a head of steam with some grisly strokes with chaos erupting and a few moments of kinkiness from a couple of ridiculously twisted beef heads. Vittorio Rambaldi direction is efficiently surefooted for its minor budget, but the half-baked execution just lacks that punch where atmosphere isnu0026#39;t projected and the suspense doesnu0026#39;t eventuate too much than just unpleasantly rowdy jolts. Then at the end you get sudden jump scene that comes from nowhere, as like a second thought because they forgot about a character. Claudio Simonettiu0026#39;s wonky score is just like a ragingly spreading virus with primal instincts and Antonio Climati lenses with a professional curtness. The performances are modest with Patrick Lowe and Cheryl Arutt making likable heroines. Sarah Buxton also shines in her part. Bo Svenson presenting a fashionable ponytail makes light work as the devious professor.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlso thereu0026#39;s a connection there with some of the cast and crew which saw them do the Italian cash-in of an American influenced slasher u0026#39;Nightmare Beachu0026#39; in the same year.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePassably average, but it does have some twisted novelty moments within.”