Phase 7 | aka Faze 7 (2011) Review

"Phase 7" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Nicolas Goldbart
Writer: Nicolas Goldbart
Producer: Sebastian Aloi
Cast: Daniel Hendler, Jasmine Stuart, Yayo Guridi, Federico Luppi, Carlos Bermejo, Abian Vainstein
Running Time: 95 min.

By HKFanatic

“Phase 7” is the latest in a string of viral outbreak films to land before horror moviegoer’s eyes, following the underrated “Carriers” with Chris Prine and the cult Spanish-language hit “[REC].” “Phase 7” is also in Spanish, though this time it arrives from the country of Argentina. Argentina isn’t exactly known for its genre cinema but there are no flesh-eating undead hordes to be found in this film. Instead, most of the action takes place in a quarantined apartment building while the rest of the world is ravaged by a deadly outbreak. As a young husband and his pregnant wife bunker down for the long haul, the mounting paranoia among their neighbors threatens to spill into their own lives.

“Phase 7” is effective in its restraint. Editor-turned-director Nicolas Goldbart favors a slow build of tension as the opening scene’s trip to the grocery store reveals something is not quite right. The film is well acted with solid turns from popular Argentinean actor Daniel Handler as the male lead, and Yayo Guridi and Federico Luppi as two neighbors who are both off their rocker in slightly different ways. As the saying goes, “just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not after you.” Are Handler’s fellow tenants smart for preparing for the apocalypse – or are they crazy for actually anticipating the unthinkable? Director Goldbart, who also wrote the script, doles out apocalyptic iconography in a measured fashion, letting the audience know what kind of picture they’re in: the out of control crowds, the quarantine suits, the helicopters swooping over funnels of smoke, the panic rooms.

If I have any serious complaint about this film, it’s that the pace is far too lax for a story about a viral apocalypse. There’s no mention of just what Phase 7 is within the context of the plot until about thirty minutes into the movie and even then it seems to have no bearing on the rest of the film, other than some slight thematic resonance concerning statements made by George Bush Sr. about a “New World Order” back in the early 90’s. Goldbart himself had a hand in the editing but the film moves at a surprisingly slow clip. Camera takes occasionally linger for too long, leaving actors to awkwardly creep up the stairs or pour another bowl of Fruit Loops. The wife character, though ably portrayed by actress Jasmine Stuart, is given precious little to do other than nag at her husband.

The script devotes a great deal of time to building tension; when the tension does finally spill over towards the end of the film, these scenes are marred by a few unrealistic touches. For instance, a character with a shotgun that only fires two shots and then requires a lengthy reload, rendering him vulnerable in the process, is able to hold off two opponents who have him pinned down with automatic weapons. Moments like this tend to take the viewer out of the movie.

Regardless, “Phase 7” has plenty to recommend. The music by Guillermo Guareschi features bubbling, 80’s-style synth-bass, recalling the soundtracks to classic John Carpenter films like “They Live” and “Escape From New York.” The cast is entirely convincing, as Daniel Handler goes from simpering man-child to man of action and his neighbors increasingly circle the drain of their own sanity. The film’s uncertain denouement left me anxious to find out what happens next – I would not be opposed to a sequel. When you realize that “Phase 7” was made for about half a million US dollars, it clearly outclasses several Hollywood horror movies made for considerably more money. “Phase 7” is a promising debut for director Nicolas Goldbart, even if the pacing could have used a little more momentum.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10