Director: Jeff Renfroe,
Starring: Kevin Zegers, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton, Charlotte Sullivan, Dru Viergever,
Running Time: 96 Minutes
Certificate: 18
THE COLONY is a post-apocalyptic thriller that follows many of the subgenre’s staples. Set in a world where it just doesn’t stop snowing and mankind has been forced underground, a colony of survivors investigate the absence of contact with another colony only to find a deranged group of merciless cannibals. As the plot suggests, themes of survival and humanity facing great adversity are quickly displaced with fast and confusing action sequences.
It’s a lovely film to look at at times, with the outside sequences making the most of some believable CGI and green screen. The world truly feels lifeless and this heightens many of the early political arguments between Fishburne’s trustworthy leader, and Paxton’s off the rails, tough love, second in command. Both give it their all, but Paxton’s character gets lost in the writing and soon, despite the obvious intension of showing him losing his focus, it just becomes a sudden change filled with dumb decisions that would probably never happen.
The threat of cannibals is a common one in end of the world thrillers, but here they’re existence is just riddled with numerous plot holes that detract from the narrative. Some nonsense explanation about the people going mad and losing all their humanity is a mere cheap addition to steer these guys away from a ‘zombie’ label. Like it or not, you’ll be incredulous of these characters as they are supposed to be humans and yet have super human speed and strength and don’t fear anything. They are meant to have lost their minds, but they still try and intimidate by holding up severed heads, and can navigate ventilation systems pretty well.
The first half does contain a lot of tension, and the fewer characters on screen the better. Zegers is a serviceable action hero and hits all the right notes without ever making his character a noticeable cliché. The music is another element that fulfils its purpose, but again it’s not very noticeable; other than the times you think “Where have I heard that before?”
It may look decent and play out just fine, but there’s nothing here to recommend it on. There are better post-apocalyptic thrillers out there, and certainly better claustrophobic chillers set in the ice. Having directed the rather tense and brave CIVIC DUTY, you would expect Renfroe to be more relentless in his depiction of such a grim scenario. Instead, it’s been there, done that.
[usr=2]THE COLONY is released on DVD on 20th January.
