Colin (2008) Horror Movie Review

by Tom Jeffers
(Pana, Ilinois USA)

Colin is a case for low budget success!

Released: 2008
Directed by: Marc Price
Written by: Marc Price
Starring:

Alastair Kirton as Colin
Daisy Aitkens as Linda, Colin’s Sister
Kate Alderman as False Laura
Leanne Pammen as Laura
Tat Whalley as Marlen, Linda’s Friend

Colin is a huge surprise. The power of this simple film is its dependency on story and character development instead of massive effects. The plot is about a young man, Colin, and his descent into zombiehood. The film begins in a modified in media res with Colin gripping a hammer, emotionally distraught, and bitten. It takes the entire film to circle around to discover what has happened. The plot is best left to be discovered by the viewer, so I won't focus on that. Revealing it would be almost criminal. Zombie fans that want an intelligent movie mixed with powerful drama will love it. The film's long episodes of silence are unnerving. It has some of the greatest most guttural and disturbing zombie attack scenes I have ever seen. The absolute brilliance of this movie is in that it uses the mind to depict the horror of what is happening to victims more so than special effect gore. The gore is well done but the budget of the movie forced it to depend on something else. That ‘something else’ almost has a magical quality. I honestly think that if this film had been produced with a large budget that it could not have been improved. There are scenes of zombies doing zombie things. There are scenes of despair. There are scenes of humans doing awful things to each other as the world disintegrates.

This movie has everything and pushes the envelope in ways I have not seen in a long time. It has such power in its presentation. The fact that the director took a brilliant script and produced this film for under $80.00 makes me shake my head in amazement and gives me hope that some of my own endeavors could come to light one day. It is inspiring to see an independent effort come off so well. Not only is the movie great, it outpaces other films with far larger budgets by amazing lengths. Colin is a sad film, but beautiful. It is thought provoking, moving, horrifying, original, heartbreaking, painful to watch, uncomfortable to watch, sinister, romantic, and haunting all at the same time. The superb, and I do mean superb, acting by virtual unknowns make this production even more amazing. Every single cast member gives it everything they have. I can not emphasize this enough. What an excellent ride it is! If you are a fan of film or the zombie genre, pick this one up. Buy it because such excellent directors deserve to be rewarded, and I want to see more from Marc Price. I rented it, but plan to purchase it as soon as I have some extra cash.