In the early seventies of the last century, world cinema experienced a period of stagnation, when viewers ceased to be interested in the usual stories about love and adventure on uninhabited islands. All kinds of catastrophes on land, at sea and in the air also lost their appeal. And then the directors of the leading film companies in the USA tried to bring diversity to the quiet life of the film industry, initiating several new projects on the topic of infections with deadly viruses, bacteria, and various infections. Films appeared about the infection of the virus, zombies. The production of such films was expensive, but the effect was impressive and was worth the cost. Films about viruses and infections aroused interest among moviegoers of any age. The producers felt a good prospect for the production of films in the new genre, and the process began.
New in the cinema
World cinema is a global entertainment industry with enormous technical and creative capabilities. Films are shot at film studios in the hundreds and thousands, for every taste. Cinema viewers can choose what to watch - a sentimental melodrama or action movie, an exciting detective story or fantastic adventures in outer space. Recently, films of a special genre have become popular - films about viruses and infections, the so-called horror films. Films shot in this genre certainly require a special approach, not every viewer can withstand such stress. Therefore, each horror film demonstration is accompanied by a warning about age restrictions and possible consequences after watching. This refers to some nervous tension, which soon passes.
What is horror
The plots of such films do not differ in grace, events develop in a tense atmosphere. Death and destruction are the main hallmarks of horror. Chilling stories with the horrific appearance of creatures - this is not a sight for the faint of heart. Nevertheless, horror films about virus infection have their own audience, there are even experts in this difficult genre. Some cinemas began to specialize in showing films in this genre. Films about viruses and infections quickly became fashionable. Today there are many fans of this genre.
"Resident Evil"
This was the first virus infection film to bring significant profits.
A large pharmaceutical company, the European conglomerate Umbrella, has an increased share of risks in its production of medicines. As a result of a technological error, a biological disaster with signs of a pandemic arises in the bowels of the corporation. With an unstoppable stream, deadly viruses break free from laboratories and cover several continents at once. The population of the Earth begins to die, and those who survived turn into monsters devouring their own kind. Umbrella is becoming unmanageable, even the chairman of the board of directors, Albert Wesker, is unable to do anything. He does not try to stop the process of destruction of all life on the planet, on the contrary, he contributes in every way to the development of the catastrophe. A former employee of the company, Alice, begins a war against the leadership of Umbrella. As a result, Wesker is eliminated, and his place is taken by the computer brain, which continues the destructive activity against humanity. Infection, the death virus - a horror film tells about this.
"War of the Worlds Z"
This is a horror filmed in 2013 by director Mark Forster, starring Hollywood star of the first magnitude - Brad Pitt. This is also a film about a virus infection. The plot focuses on hordes of zombies, the living dead - disgusting, semi-decomposing, and most importantly - invulnerable. After all, it is impossible to kill a dead man, and thousands of soldiers and officers of the armies of the USA and Russia, Europe and Asia die in the battle. As soon as a healthy person touched a living dead man, he immediately turned into a zombie and joined the army of freaks or died on the spot. A merciless wave swept the epidemic around the planet, capturing countries and entire continents.
The success of the film was unprecedented, including commercial. Cash receipts exceeded budget expenditures by almost three times. Initially, the picture was planned as a trilogy, but for several reasons another decision was made - to remove the sequel as a sequel.
"Pandemic"
In 2007, director Arman Mastroianni made another horror film on the topic of viral infections. The picture was released under the name "Pandemic." The illness with symptoms of a common cold is actually caused by deadly bacilli. An unknown virus kills a young guy who is on board an ocean liner, moving from Australia to the port of Los Angeles. Infectious Disease Control Center employees quarantine ship passengers. However, the virus is not amenable to control and destruction, the infection begins to spread rapidly and eventually gets out of control.
"Patriot"
The film "Patriot" directed by Dean Semler, filmed in 1998, tells about a group of terrorists who stole the latest bacteriological weapons in the laboratory. The bandits decided to spread the deadly virus in one of the small cities in the US state of Montana. Doctors vaccinated bacteria for all members of the group, but for some reason the vaccine did not work, and the terrorists were infected, as were their victims.
By a coincidence, the eight-year-old daughter of a special agent and a virologist turned out to be immune to the action of the deadly virus. Terrorists decide to use the girl to make life-saving serum from her blood. The special agent begins the struggle for the life of his daughter.
Genre development
Films about viruses and infections today represent a separate category of cinema art with their own technical means, directing and actors specializing in the horror style.
On March 12, 1971, a scary horror film called The Andromeda Strain was released on the US screens. A research apparatus for studying outer space was launched from Earth. The probe returned to Earth not alone, it received alien deadly viruses who have the ability to turn into intelligent beings over time, ruthlessly killing all living things.In addition, it is impossible to defeat these monsters.
Contest
Films about virus infection were an inexhaustible opportunity to shoot one tape after another, but these pictures were far from always fascinating and interesting. However, the low rating of individual horror did not bother the producers - failure happens in any genre of cinema. Soon, films about infection were put on stream, but nothing good came of it. After all, the interest of moviegoers decreased, and the producers had to look again for new ways. In Hollywood, a competition for a new film was announced. Infection, death virus, epidemic, war - the proposed topics quickly found willing to try their hand at an unusual genre.
Military bacteriological developments
In the spring of 1973, a new horror film, Mad Men, was released, the creators of which tried to beat the plot as if deadly viruses were being developed in the military. Near the small town of Evans, an airplane crashed carrying the results of laboratory tests, among which were the most dangerous bacilli. Thin tubes broke, and viruses entered the city's water supply system. The entire population of the city was infected, and people began to destroy each other. The military isolated the city and quarantined it.
Films about viruses, infections and diseases became more and more interesting. Scriptwriters came up with stories in which heroes performed feats, saved the weak, fought with unscrupulous scientists. The directors shot films, the creative process did not stop for a minute. After some time, films about epidemics began to be shot at many film studios. Viruses and zombies, deadly confrontation and the death of entire continents - these topics became central to Hollywood blockbusters.
Top Deadly Virus Films
Among the many Hollywood films devoted to the theme of severe infectious diseases, there are films that are notable for their high box office. They can be distinguished as the most successful projects.
Virus infection movies: list
- "Virus". Filmed in 2013. A deadly virus suddenly appears in the city, which is transmitted through the air and kills the person who breathed it after 36 hours.
- "The killer virus." Filmed in 2010 by director Daniel Maldonado. A talented scientist brought out an artificial virus, which soon got out of control and, "traveling" through the streets, turned many people into uncontrollable zombies. In the city there are only a few houses with normal people, but the deadly virus is already getting close to them.
- Virus X is a 2010 film directed by Ryan Harris. The story of how the deadly H1N1 viruses escaped from the laboratory, and five experimental scientists were imprisoned in a quarantine bunker, without any hope of release.
- Risen from the Dead is a horror film made in 2003 by director Michael Spirig. The small provincial town of Berkeley existed serene until a meteor shower hit it, carrying terrible, deadly viruses. Residents, one by one, die and turn into bloodthirsty dead who overtake the survivors and destroy them.
- Epidemic is a classic horror film shot in 1995 by director Wolfgang Petersen. Mercenaries living in a camp in eastern Africa are exposed to a deadly and highly contagious virus. The camp is being destroyed along with the soldiers. However, the virus can no longer be saved; it enters the United States in the body of a small monkey brought from Africa. The virus quickly spread throughout the United States. The only way to overcome the infection is to make an antidote from the tissues of the infected monkey, but she was inadvertently released into the forest, and she disappeared.
- Crazy is a horror movie made in 2012 by director Pak. Dead people were discovered on the banks of a small river. The cause of death is a small leech (peddler of the virus). Under its influence, the bitten feel an irresistible desire to swim, rush into the water and drown. A local pharmacist is frantically trying to find a vaccine that could stop the epidemic.
- Last Love on Earth is a horror film made in 2011 by director David Mackenzie. An unprecedented epidemic has swept Hemley. Everywhere, people began to lose their senses, one after another. First, the smell disappears, then taste, hearing and vision. Touch is the last to disappear. Against the backdrop of global disaster, two young lovers are trying to maintain their last feelings in order to feel at least a little more each other. There is very little left, and then a complete loss of feelings.
- "Eaters" is a horror filmed in 2011 (directed by Luke Boni). The deadly virus epidemic spans the earth. Millions of people overnight turned into zombies. Three daredevils who manage to escape, take refuge in an abandoned fortress.
- The White Wall is a detective shot in 2010 by director James Boss. Almost the entire population of the Earth died under the influence of the 510-2X virus, the survivors are located in four cities that were created specifically to isolate the survivors and are enclosed by high white walls. Dr. Shawn is trying to find a vaccine against the virus, and his brother, Jude, knows the secret, due to which the death of people is delayed for a while.
- Jacob's Stairway, a horror film released in 1990, directed by Adrian Line. Jacob Singer, a veteran of the Vietnam War, returns to America. He is tense, reality seems to him a hallucination. A friend only adds uncertainty, and when he finds out that his comrades are suffering, life becomes even more hopeless.
- "Insight" is a horror film directed by Guillaume Morales in 2013. Julia, suffering from eye disease, finds her sister in the basement of the house, in a noose. At first glance, this is ordinary suicide, but the girl suspects that her sister was killed. However, she quickly loses her sight, and her task is to find the killer, until the light fades completely in her eyes.
- "The Chamber" is a 2010 horror film directed by John Carpenter. Kristen is being cured in a mental hospital. Four more girls are in the ward. The nights pass uneasyly - some sounds are heard, scary and inexplicable. Girls begin to disappear one after another. Christine tries to escape, and here the origin of the sounds is revealed.
- Cockney vs. Zombies - 2012 horror, directed by Matthias Hoen. During construction work, the excavator hooked an ancient burial with a bucket. Terrible viruses escaped from the destroyed coffin, which in a few days infected the entire population of the city, turned people into aggressive monsters.
- "Extinction. Chronicles of Gene Modification" is a horror film made in 2011 by director Nika Drozdowski. Tom Keller survived the viral epidemic that swept the planet. Hiding in an abandoned military reservation, he tries to get in touch with the outside world. His attempts are unsuccessful, and it seems that life is ending.
The list of the best films about viruses could be continued, since their number is simply huge. Have a nice view!