The End Is NighBackground: This is the third movie from Britain's own Neil Marshall, after Dog Soldiers and The Descent. It's about a killer virus that hits the UK, forcing the government to quarantine all the infected in Scotland, contained behind a modern-day Hadrian's Wall. 25 years later, the virus returns with a vengeance, so a crack team are sent into Scotland to find a cure... and discover a tribal society...
Review: This is a very formulaic action trailer, complete with gravelly-voice American voiceover and stock sound-effects, but it's still quite fun. Female lead Rhona Mitra (Kate Beckinsale's clone?) looks tough and sexy -- in an "English Milla Jovovich" sort of way, and the supporting roles for thesps Malcolm McDowell (not surprising) and Bob Hoskins (surprising) could be fun.
Some of the CGI-assisted sequences look like video-game interludes, but the real-world stunts seem quite effective (I particularly like the car/bus stunt). But, the trailer kind of washes over you; content to remind you of the films it's inspired by, instead of slap you round the face with something fresh and original.
Prediction: Neil Marshall is channeling 80s action cinema with this film, but while there's nothing original in the trailer, at least the films it's cribbing from (Escape From New York and Mad Max, primarily) are of good stock. It doesn't look like Doomsday's going to be as focused and frightening as The Descent, but I doubt it'll be boring with Marshall behind the camera, sexy Rhona Mitra kicking ass, and McDowell/Hoskins chewing scenery.
This should do solid business (particularly in the UK), but it won't exactly set the world on fire, and will probably attract negative reviews from critics who value originality. I just hope the acting isn't embarrassingly bad and Marshall keeps everything rolling along happily -- with a few twists and turns to make Doomsday more than just a pale, British imitation.
Released: 14 March (US)
HD 480P (48 MB)
HD 720P (121 MB)
HD 1080P (177 MB)
To play; rename the downloaded file to "whatever.mov".
