source: Isolation

Spoilers!!!!!!!!! This movie started out very well. It was tension-filled, and had an eerie apprehension to it. A great setting and dreary atmosphere always manages to pull me in. I wasn't all that thrilled with the cow being harassed the way she was, but it was a necessity of the plot. ( I hope the indignities were not really being put upon the old girl). But about the 2/3 mark, I think it just fizzled and was reduced to a bad attempt at "Alien". I'm not sure where I would have taken the plot, had I been the writer, but I feel it could have been so much better. I really can't recommend it for a horror 'go-round', but if you want to see a so-so attempt at some great settings, then take a look -see.

I just saw this great film at the TIFF (toronto film fest) An Irish movie, it was a farm based Alien although the monster was created by scientific experiments on cows. Five people on an isolated farm are terrorized by an experiment gone awry. It built the tension was slowly but was quite terrifying. I was literally on the edge of my seat. Blood was used sparingly, but there were quite a few disturbing images. A number of people walked out as I don't think they knew what they were getting into. A definite must see. It was presented by Lion's Gate International so maybe it will get some showings in North America. I like to tell people to check out Cookers--I loved it.

The first one third of the movie was just to build up something. The second third consisted of purposeless hanging around seasoned with naturalistic vet scenes. The ending third was filled with, say, fight scenes, puzzling you on what they were actually doing and what they were doing it for. This was it. Some points made me really wonder. I've never seen a movie, where people went on fighting creatures without even a kitchen knife in their hands. Never seen people deciding to fight without even a trace of escape planning. Finally, I've never seen a movie with such space disproportions. Small barns suddenly turned to be enormous from inside. Two heroes in the same barn staying still and calling each other by shouting suddenly appear to be barely two meters apart. Generally I liked the actors, although there was nothing to perform except some harsh vet duties. Generally I liked sets as well. Hanging chains, pumps, huge desolated barns were atmospheric by themselves, although poorly used to develop on the mood of the movie. The only sets elements used properly were mud and cows. There is nothing in this movie - nothing fresh, no emotions, no scares. Even the process of watching itself doesn't deliver anything except wonders on how poor the directing can go given with a good crew, actors and sets. Save your time for something else.

The opening scenes were an eye catcher and a little comical but the rest was of no artistical talent. This is your average C rated D budget movie that is so circular and predictable i can spend my entire life listing other movies that it is a carbon copy plot and script of. There are a lot of facial closeups to avoid showing the lack of CGI, action or change of scenery. The cast follows the typical set of disoriented characters that run around confused not knowing what to do. The overall pace is very moooooody (emphasis on the Os) and stale with clichés coming out of every corner. The one good thing about it is that at least not all of the actors are hysterical screamers or prom queens. This is a plus, at least they look like farm hands. a waste of your time unless you are from the area where the movie was shot. Then you might find it enjoyable, i suppose.

This movie would come first in those lists of movies to avoid. I just can't believe why somebody would want to see this movie. I hardly write reviews here but read surely before seeing a movie. I am so disappointed with this movie that I had to warn others not to waste time over this movie. The first 5 - 10 minutes of the movies makes one anticipating but the secret is out in the 11th minute and its a drag. I had to fast forward and finish off this movie. There are better " alien creature" movies available if that is what one wants to see. Do yourself a favor - keep away from this movie.

I found myself moderately bored throughout this film with regard to its very slow pace and the fact that nothing much actually happens in it other than the bare bones clichés and standard plot points. If you do ever watch this, you could challenge your friends to see who can shout out the name of film the current plot point is ripped off from, although it's not much of a challenge, as they are very easy to recognize. Typical B horror movie (with stupid, irrational characters) meets slow-paced attempt-at-moody film plus a few scenes stolen from Aliens = this very boring flick. The ending seemed like it was tagged on as an afterthought, and just before it took place, I found myself thinking "If this just ends with character X doing action Y, I'll be very disappointed" and sure enough I was. With these poor quality, unoriginal films, a lot of the reviews appear to trumpet the fact it was made on a low budget as if that on its own can somehow redeem a poor film. That makes me wonder if those people aren't shills, because surely a consumer has no interest in how much the film cost to make - they are only interested in being entertained. Others have commented on this film being realistic, and you may be wondering if that's why people are saying it's boring - let me assure that's not the case. Realism is not an attribute of this film any more than Wile Coyote Vs Roadrunner is. That's right, the 'thing' in this movie has been given a silly sentience to enable it to go "what the..." at certain plot points. Complete silliness I'm afraid. In short, there is absolutely NOTHING original in this film. Nothing whatsoever. Added to that, there is nothing interesting or entertaining here either, and that makes for a rather copious waste of time. I've seen it all done before by better actors and scriptwriters.

Isolation is set in Ireland on a rundown cattle farm owned by Daniel (John Lynch), sinister genetic scientist John (Marcel Iures) along with local vet Orla (Essie Davis) have been carrying out genetic experiments on Daniel's livestock. As a result of trying to genetically produce more fertile Cow's with shorter gestation periods one of Daniel's Cow's gives birth to a deformed mutant which itself is pregnant with six mutant babies, after killing the mother Cow & baby Calf Orla carries out a crude autopsy during which one of the mutant foetus creatures crawl's off unnoticed. The mutant foetus starts to infect the other Cow's & more mutants are born, the infection & creatures must be stopped on Daniel's farm or risk a widespread epidemic throughout the world... This British & Irish co-production was written & directed by Billy O'Brien & is a sort of mix of Alien (1979) with it's parasitic creatures that burst out of stomachs & it's water dripping, chain clinking visuals & sonics, the slimly design of the monsters comes right from The Thing (1982) & the whole genetic experiments gone wrong on a farm reeks of Black Sheep (2006) all three of which are better than Isolation. For a start Isolation is slow going, really slow going at times & there's not a whole lot to it other than there's this farm with a killer mutant baby Cow monster crawling around. The monster doesn't really do that much apart from scratch a few people & the script focuses on what it represents rather than what it does, the idea that if it escapes the farm the mutant Calf infection will spread across the world is mentioned often but ultimately Isolation never leaves the confines of the farm. The character's are alright & slightly stronger than expected if a little dull, Isolation isn't your typical Hollywood horror & there's no good looking girls to strip or young teenagers to save the day, the character's here are pretty believable even if they are rather forgettable. The genetic experiments are never gone into in any great detail & the scripts message about not tampering with Mother Nature or altering genetics for gain & failed scientific experiments is far from original. At a shade over 90 minutes Isolation goes for a slow build-up & never really gets going, quite simply there were too many times when I was sat there watching this bored. Along with a slow script the direction is also pretty slow with some fairly long shots that drag scenes out, Isolation is a pretty dull looking film set on a dirty & rundown cattle farm in the bleak Irish countryside. The monster itself isn't seen killing anyone, it's implied it killed someone but otherwise it doesn't seem that interested randomly killing people. There's a bit of gore, there's plenty of Cow guts, some blood splatter, a bolt gun is used to kill a Cow & a guy while the monster itself is mainly kept in the shadow's although it's also nice to see a modern film without any CGI computer effects. The whole look & feel of Isolation reminded me of Alien, sure Alien set on a farm in Ireland but Alien none the less. With a supposed budget of about £2,900,000 this had a reasonable amount spent on it, it's very well made with slick production design but again I found it rather bleak, forgettable & dull. Filmed in County Wicklow in Ireland. The acting is solid from a decent cast not chosen for their looks. Isolation is a film that many seem to like, personally I didn't since it felt far too similar to lots of other genetic experiments gone wrong type horror films without distinguishing itself in the slightest. I found it slow to the point of boredom, somewhat predictable & the warning about genetic experimentation & it's horrible consequences is far from original.

In a time when remakes, sequels and sequels to remakes are just about all the horror genre is getting, it's refreshing to a see a film that isn't merely a copy of another. This film isn't completely original, however, as it has shades of classics such as Alien and The Thing, but the base of the plot is compelling and the way that director Billy O'Brien patiently builds up the atmosphere and tension is impressive. The plot obviously takes influence from the agricultural crisis's we've had in Britain over the last few years; namely foot and mouth, in which the desire not to have people coming and going from various farms was strong. The film starts with a cow giving birth. There's obviously a problem from the outset, and it increases when the cow is born. The calf is somehow not right, and the farmers take the decision to kill it. Upon dissecting the dead calf, it turns out that there's a parasite growing inside of it, and we soon learn that this is the result of an experiment carried out with the farmer's say so by an immoral vet... The film is slow to start, and the first half is really just build up. However, the build up isn't boring and the director generates suspense by never really letting us know what is going on until it is really needed. The second half the film is entirely different to the first as then we focus more on action and gore, and this actually goes well with the beginning of the movie. There aren't many characters in the film, and that means that there aren't a lot of death scenes; but this isn't too important as the central monster looks cool enough, and the death scenes are suitably nasty, even though they're not very gory. The locations the atmosphere is a big stand out, and the director does a good job of ensuring the farm location is integral to the plot and good use of the dirty and eerie locations is used at all times. The film is a long way away from being perfect; the camera-work annoyed me somewhat as Billy O'Brien obviously subscribes to the flashy camera-work school of thought, and sometimes you can't see what's going on. However, this is a well made and well acted little horror film that deserves more plaudits for the fact that it's not a direct rip off. Very well done!

2005 Toronto Film Festival Report This 2005 Irish Horror film is written and directed by a "Billy O'Brien". The Programmer, Colin Geddes, nor anyone from the cast or crew is at the screening. Not a good sign. (Found out later that the Directors wife was giving birth!!) Plot Outline: On a remote Irish farm, five people become unwilling participants in an experiment that goes nightmarishly wrong. Well there is nothing wrong with a good monster/Alien film once and awhile. Unfortunately this is not one of them. It is likely the first film ever that can make the claim to showing not once, not twice, but three times in the first fifteen minutes a cow having a hand being put up its ass. To be fair to the director Billy O'Brien, (who also wrote this piece of art) the opening is moody at times. You are trying to figure out what the heck is going on. The set-up takes forever to get going, and the yet the ending seems rushed. Lions Gate International has picked up the rights so we may see it on a screen at some point. There is no humor here what so ever. There is a low scare count, the "thing" is small and seemed just fine playing with cows. Is it horrible, no. Kind of wish it was to be honest, it might have been a little more fun that way. The crowd was small, and not reacting much at all. There was no one there to blame at the end of the screening. Hey, just discovered the original name of the film, (The Calf). D!oh, and this was one of the best Midnight Madness films of the year? Come on Colin! Where the hell is the new "Tony Jaa" Film "Tom yum goong" ? Now that would have been some Madness Baby. Rating = C-