Containment (2015)

Dir: Neil Mcenery-West

Struggling artist Mark (Lee Ross CENTURION) wakes up in his flat to discover the power is out, the water turned off, his front door glued shut and a female voice transmitting over the intercom system telling him to remain calm. He's anything but calm. His violence prone and impulsive neighbour Sergei (Andrew Leung) takes matters into his own hands and smashes through to Mark's flat using a hammer. Sergei has collected a few of the other neighbours who are all in the same situation as Mark; Nicu (Gabriel Senior) the mute cherub with kleptomaniac tendencies, and the getting more distant by the moment couple Aiden (William Postlethwaite) and Sally (Louise Brealey VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN). Remembering his pension neighbour on the other side Enid (Sheila Reid HUSH), Mark bashes a hole in the adjoining wall and they all congregate in his flat.

Looking out the window of the Weston Shore Tower Block, the group spies people in hazmat suits going about in a determined fashion erecting a mobile hospital, corralling people from neighbouring towers into the hospital and putting a bullet into the heads of those who try and escape. Full on panic mode grips the group and when Nicu is nicked by a couple of people in the suits from his hiding place in an air vent, they are no longer complacent and make a break for it.

Including the expected reveal as to what is going on, it's not a zombie outbreak but a deadly viral outbreak being hushed up by the government, that's it for the plot. A group of people hang out in a room, squabble with one another, argue with those that are trying to contain the outbreak and then have a row with a different group of people. Considering the film is only 77 minutes long and both opening credits and end credits (six minutes long!) pad the run time it's not good when the film feels like it is dragging in spots. The trap a group of people in a confined space scenario so beloved by horror film makers due to its cheapness and location manageability can and has worked. George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is a classic and a classic example of this scenario. Then there's RAMMBOCK, PONTYPOOL  and a slew of others.

The acting and direction are fine but it needs a little extra. I don't know if that's a bit more action, some more tension or slightly less screen time of people sitting around. I like what is on display for the most part but wish the film makers were able to push CONTAINMENT beyond above average.

** 1/2 out of ****