Pathogen

Rating: 

Year Released: 2006

Zombie Speed: Slow

Cause of Zombie Outbreak: Failed nanotech cancer cure in drinking water.

Best Zombie: Stacy’s little brother.

Most Creative Weapon: The skull-penetratingly sharp tree branch.

Best Death: Dannie’s last stand, as the only remaining survivor of her group she walks out, axe in hand, to go down fighting.

Sub-Genre: Indie

Amanda Jean’s Review: Pathogen isn’t just any zombie movie, it’s a zombie movie made by a 12 year old girl! This movie shows how much talent is bottled up inside young Emily Hagins. Pathogen serves up a decent plot, horrible acting, and another reason you should steer clear of water. YAYY for talented girls showing their strengths! (P.S. You’ll get over the bad acting when you remind yourself they are just a group of her middle school friends and parents.)

Matt’s Review: It’s challenging to really judge this movie because the fact that it was made at all is a remarkable feat in its own right. Pathogen was a feature-length film written, directed and edited by a 12-year-old! While the film is definitely not without its faults (primarily the acting, featuring amateur child actors in most of the lead roles), it is very endearing and unique in that this is the first zombie film that I know of to be shown from a kids perspective. Almost like Goonies with zombies… but you know, not that awesome. Seeing something like this created by a 12-year-old makes me think I should be doing so much more at the age of 30! Since making Pathogen, director Emily Hagins, has gone on to make a couple more feature-length films, including My Sucky Teen Romance, which had its premier at this years SXSW and features a few members of the Pathogen cast. They’ve all clearly come a long way and I expect we’ll be seeing more great things from Emily and co. in the future.

Also, if you can’t get enough Pathogen, be sure to check out the full length documentary about the making of the film, Zombie Girl: The Movie, which is streaming on Netflix now!

Up next is Outpost, a British zombie movie that I purchased in the discount DVD rack at Walgreens… clearly a mark of quality!