Movie Review: STRAIN 100

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN / Staff Writer

Posted: April 14th, 2023 / 01:31 AM

STRAIN 100 movie poster | ©2023 Uncork'd Entertainment

Rating: R
Stars: Jemma Dallender, Matt Carriker, Alex Zedra, Hickok45, Tori Nonaka, Robert Forte Shannon III, Alexis Boozer Sterling, John C. Forman, John Manfredi, Keyna Reynolds, Erika Hoveland, Jacquie Floyd, Jack Welcher, Karina Martinez
Writer: Todd Klick, story by Hassan Hussein & Keir Lee
Director: Hassan Hussein
Distributor: Uncork’d Entertainment
Release Date: April 11, 2023 (digital)

Somewhere in the universe of mathematical calculations, someone has figured out the exact number of zombie movies, the exact number of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, and the number of times that these will overlap.

While there are very possibly other examples out there, STRAIN 100 is the current example of that particular Venn diagram. The screenplay by Todd Klick, from a story by director Hassan Hussein & cinematographer Keir Lee, doesn’t ever mention COVID. Still, the biological villain in STRAIN 100 is a government-distributed vaccine against a respiratory virus. How this strikes the individual viewer may color that viewer’s reaction to other aspects of the film.

Main character Jesse (Jemma Dallender) is on a camping trip with friends when the viral outbreak occurs. Jesse is resourceful and has sharp enough reflexes to survive the initial unexpected onslaught.

STRAIN 100 then becomes a road trip movie, as Jesse seeks shelter and help for herself and those she encounters. She does have a destination in mind.

The filmmakers pay homage to, or borrow from, the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD at various points, including a fair amount of the opening, fast-moving zombies, and the suitably ominous music score by Elia Cmiral and Cody Martin. Jesse’s ultimate goal is to get to Atlanta, which on the one hand makes sense – it’s where the CDC is based – but on other hand inevitably recalls the setting for THE WALKING DEAD.

Despite obvious budgetary constraints, director Hussein gets good bang for his buck in terms of multiple zombies, a variety of locations, and gore effects. The end credits list a sizable stunt team, who all pull their weight.

Unlike a lot of zombie movies, STRAIN 100 includes the search for a cure, rather than simply survival, as part of its plot. Somehow, this doesn’t provide the proceedings with an added sense of urgency, perhaps because the exposition about it is doled out in ways that don’t feel organic. Also, the resolution is given in a postscript rather than filmed scenes, which dilutes the impact considerably.

Then there are some morally ambiguous supporting characters. These would work better if we had a better idea of what they were trying to achieve, or how they decide on who to harm and who to help.

STRAIN 100 fulfills the Zombie 101 mandate of blood and body count, with the added bonus of a genuine sense of geographical scope. Storywise, though, it is not a strong genre entry.

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