Post-Apocalyptic Boston: a Euro-American Fusion

Read Time:3 Minute, 38 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Adrenalin: Fear the Rush
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Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Year Released: 1996, 2021 Ronin Flix Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 17m
Director(s): Albert Pyun
Writer(s): Albert Pyun
Cast: Chistopher Lambert, Natasha Henstridge, Norbert Weisser
Where To Watch: available to purchase here www.roninflix.com

RAVING REVIEW: So let me get this out of the way early on; your enjoyment of this film will depend heavily on the types of movies you generally like. If you’re a low-budget borderline B movies fan, this will be right up your alley. If you want something with an incredible plot and top-notch CGI, this isn’t your cup of tea. While I was honest with my two-star rating, there were moments when my mid-90s nostalgia kicked in, and I genuinely enjoyed the experience. A little over an hour of Christopher Lambert and Natasha Henstridge in the sewers is the definition of crazy, lol.

Albert Pyun's ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH is about as late 90s action as possible regarding its general feel. Imagine a future where viruses have multiplied, and the viruses have turned into monstrous beings. I kid you not; they play this as straight-laced as you could imagine, even with such a crazy narrative. Natasha Henstridge and Christopher Lambert lead the charge against this formidable foe, playing a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with this grotesque virus monster person thing.

Right from the onset, ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH throws a curveball. It's Boston, but the film wears a thick Eastern European cloak, drawing upon Bratislava's post-communist atmosphere. This unique setting becomes the movie's lifeblood, infusing the story with an undertone of anxiety and disorder. It's a thrilling ride, and our cast, adept in portraying terror, are the perfect tour guides for this heart-thumping journey. The weird thing is that it works; the claustrophobic feeling of the movie only adds to the anxiety.

Henstridge’s character’s evolution might feel rushed, but her acting still shines through and makes her character the most memorable. Her co-stars, Christopher Lambert, and Norbert Weisser, accentuate this air of suspense in the film. At no point is this a significant blockbuster action film, but the solid acting keeps the film afloat, even when chaos abounds?

ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH stews in its eerie horror elements, crafting its narrative around the unknown. The story pivots on a terrible virus that turns humans into horrifying cannibals but not the traditional version you’ve seen before. A setback by Henstridge's SWAT team amps up the suspense, leading to Lambert's character's involvement.

The narrative crux of ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH is a lethal viral outbreak intertwined with the remnants of Eastern Europe's communist history. The movie sets a chilling tone from the start, prompting the audience to brace for a skin-crawling adventure.

The narrative builds in complexity, threading in themes of societal unrest, lockdowns, burgeoning black markets, and nascent resistance groups. These currents run beneath the surface, occasionally overshadowed by the central narrative focusing on the dynamic duo, Henstridge and Lambert. Some reviews have compared this to the COVID outbreak, which is incredibly disrespectful. One thing is trying to stay relevant or up to date, but this is a fictional post-apocalyptic story vs. a real-world travesty we all had to go through.

In a nutshell, ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH is a mysterious puzzle box of a movie, a testament to Pyun's distinctive narrative style. It's like peeling an onion, with each layer revealing a new depth of complexity and making you suffer through each layer. It's a delicate balance of horror, action, and social critique, which leaves a powerful mark on the audience, which some will love, and others will hate; which will you be?

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[photo courtesy of RONIN FLIX]