Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014)

Dreadfully Boring

Brilliant and touching

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

On a remote Caribbean island, a research facility seeks to create a cure for the Cabin Fever virus from a bloke who appears immune to it (Sean Astin, in a career-worst performance. And film). Crashing into this set-up, which is already going pear-shaped, come a bachelor party comprising likable and sensible groom-to-be Marcus, his obnoxious and annoying idiot partner Dobbs, his brother Josh, and Josh's girlfriend Penny with whom Marcus had a bit of a thing a couple of years ago, and quite why she's along I have not the faintest idea, other than to swan around in a bikini to my daughter's annoyance. Chaos ensues.This was in Poundland, and it even had one of those embossed outer slipcases, so it must be good, right? Wrong. This is perfectly dreadful. Not in every way, mind you - it is technically competent - but creatively. It is poorly written, directed and acted, and almost all of the second half is composed of that stalwart of horror movies which have running time to fill and no idea what to fill it with - yes, that's right, creeping around in unlit tunnels by torchlight, a section which is so badly executed that you're never quite sure who is creeping where and what they expect to achieve when they get there.I don't recall ever having seen a film quite so bad featuring an actor with anything similar to Mr Astin's track record.

When a group of friends enjoying a bachelor cruise in the Caribbean stumble upon a research facility on a remote island, a deadly virus is unleashed. The group must find a way to survive before the flesh eating virus consumes them all.First of all, hats off to Sean Astin. While he probably could have declined a straight-to-video sequel with all the "Lord of the Rings" royalty checks, he accepted the challenge and took it head on. This role is outside what he is known for, and he gives a dark, disturbing persona that is quite impressive. Perhaps Astin is a bigger talent than given credit for? Director Kaare Andrews ("Altitude") takes the helm, and that can only be a good thing. Andrews may be better known in some circles as a comic book artist (his work on "Iron Fist" is amazing), but he is a formidable director, as well. Not that this is a truly amazing film, but given what he had to work with, the finished product is spectacular.We have the necessary gross moments, including a predictable sex scene, and a few nasty yet humorous ones (most notably a scene involving a pistol). Some of the best parts were not the gore at all, but Sean Astin's interaction with his captors. He just exudes emotion like no one else in this film.

I'm a great fan of the Cabin Fever series, and with this new addition to the series I think it may POSSIBLY (SPOILER ALERT) led to yet another sequel. I enjoyed the suspense of the film which usually occurs throughout the first half of most horror film and loved the story build up. However, I never expected the events which is always a plus to any horror geek like myself. I'd have to say though that because you don't really suspect the ending, you're left with many questions and assumptions which isn't necessarily always bad but sometimes can keep the viewers attention on other aspects of the film rather than what is really being portrayed.

I am actually very surprised at the hatred of other IMDb reviewers towards this film. I mean, I certainly didn't expect it to be garnering critical praise but I had actually heard when the film released in limited screenings that people were enjoying it and impressed by it. I think I saw the first Cabin Fever years ago and I am fairly certain I never bothered with the second but I thought I would give this a go because the last horror/slasher I took a chance on blew me away (Wolf Creek 2.) Well I'm happy to say this also really surprised me. It is dark and twisted and very well shot and while it isn't necessarily brilliant, it is very entertaining from a horror perspective. The story is well told even if it is painfully predictable at times (especially the bachelor party on the open seas storyline.) For those who enjoy the series as a whole, it seems to carry on more of the story and you find out exactly where the origin of the disease came from. The ending to me didn't make a lot of sense, I think there was supposed to be a big twist to it all and maybe if you're a fan of the series you might have got it but I missed something there but regardless it was an enjoyable, mindless, ridiculously violent and over the top excessive slasher/Zombie flick.Sean Astin is probably the most impressive part of Cabin Fever 3. He gives a genuinely stirring and forcefully disturbing performance as thee patient zero. This might be one of the best things I've ever seen Astin do. He is far better than what the film deserves but he definitely adds something to it as well. I would have preferred the film follow his character rather than the doofus typical 20 somethings. Mitch Ryan is the leader of those doofus' but he does alright as our reluctant horror hero. His character isn't given a lot to deal with but he does get more depth than anyone else and plays the role well. Brando Eaton gets a cookie cutter "stoner best friend" type character who is a lot of fun and really gets some messed up disturbing scenes. He is probably a little better than Ryan but his character is better too. Ryan Donowho is barely existent as just another friend there to be fodder for the zombie outbreak and Jillian Murray who is there early on to be a "hot" girl who will take her top off and to make sure there is a female character though she also has some really messed up disturbing scenes including a sickening (but disturbingly creative) oral sex scene and a zombie fighting scene I thought would be very memorable in the cult classic circles.The film does lack a definitive villain but then the entire concept is that the virus is the true killer. We do have a maniacal doctor and his staff trying to survive and escape the island but that plot is mostly lost in the shuffle. The film absolutely goes for sheer shock value but does so fairly well and as disgusting and outrageous as some of the scenes and gore is...I thought it worked quite well. Maybe I've watched too many terrible horror films and my expectations have shrunk. Certainly Kaare Andrews doesn't have a lot of experience yet but he definitely shows some promise. The story and script is solid but I would have really liked it if they had spent more time developing the characters of the friends at the party. Yes they are supposed to be the stereotypical young party animals who get picked off but there was potential to actually care about them. There was very little chemistry between any of them and yet we were supposed to buy them as life long childhood friends. Cabin Fever 3 isn't brilliant. Don't mistake my 8/10 as implying that. For sheer entertainment, shock value and a crazy campy gory horror flick it succeeded quite well and was heads and tails above similar low budget crap. I enjoyed myself and won't soon forget some of the more shocking scenes. 8/10