Jesus
Christ!
What
a
waste
of
resources
and
energy
for
a
horror
about
raising
the
dead.
Edgily
balancing
between
the
science
fiction
and
horror
genres,
"The
Lazarus
Effect" is
a
poorly
crafted
film
that
has
nothing
original
about
it.
And,
the
execution
of
the
idea
is
both
ineffectual
and
lethargic.
Set
within
the
confines
of
a
laboratory
at
St.
Peternus
University
in
Berkeley,
California,
the
story
follows
a
group
of
four
medical
researchers
lead
by
Fank
(Mark
Duplass)
and
his
fiance
Zoe
(Olivia
Wilde).
The
quartet
are
working
under
a
grant
from
the
college
to
experiment
with
something
that
could
revolutionise
the
mechanics
of
modern
science.
In
their
endeavour,
they
develop
a
serum
that
could
bring
the
dead
back
to
life.
This
revolutionary
experiment
would
definitely
benefit
humanity,
but
unfortunately,
how
their
plans
go
topsy-turvy,
forms
the
crux
of
the
narration.
While
this
brief
may
sound
interesting
theoretically,
director
David
Gelb's
work
of
art
is
disappointing.
The
first
act
of
the
film
has
verbose
exposition
where
characters
rattle
off
their
frustrations
spouting
cliches
and
technical
terms,
creating
a
chaotic
conflict
which
is
unclear.
It
is
only
after
the
initial
experiment
when
the
dead
dog
comes
back
to
life
that
the
flow
of
events
and
narration
is
comprehensible
to
an
extent.
In
the
second
act,
when
Zoe
accidentally
dies
and
is
later
revived,
strange
things
begin
happening
to
her
--
she
can
move
objects
through
telekinesis,
and,
this
being
a
horror
film,
she's
possessed
by
the
sudden
desire
to
murder
everyone
around
her.
Simultaneously,
we
are
bombarded
with
the
leitmotif
of
Zoe's
haunting
vision
which
involves
a
little
girl
helpless
to
rescue
a
family
from
burning
to
death.
These
scenes
confuse
you
further.
Also,
the
abrupt
end
makes
the
film
look
like
like
an
incomplete
work,
concluded
hurriedly.
These
turn
of
events
on
screen
does
not
speak
too
highly
about
writers
Luke
Dawson
and
Jeremy
Slater's
screenplay.
Every
scene,
whether
it
is
a
mere
exchange
of
dialogue
between
characters
or
a
setup
to
a
creepy
jolt,
is
without
ambition
and
the
film
drags
through
a
series
of
foggy
and
irrational
plot
points
that
lead
nowhere.
It
offers
no
insight
into
the
premise
and
lacks
any
indication
to
the
goal.
While
the
actors
labour
hard
to
give
life
to
the
characters,
the
underdeveloped
character
graphs
do
not
support
them.
Overall,
the
acting
is
functional
without
any
chemistry
between
actors.
Olivia
Wilde
as
Zoe
has
a
meaty
role.
Her
transition
from
a
researcher
to
the
subject
of
the
research
to
the
demonic
beast
is
commendable.
Duplass
as
the
careless
lover
and
overtly
ambitious
nerd
is
natural.
Their
two
colleagues;
Donal
Glover
as
Nike
who
has
a
soft
corner
for
Zoe
and
Evan
Peters
as
Clay
along
with
Sarah
Bolger
who
plays
a
damsel
in
distress,
videographer
are
all
too
restrained.
Technically,
the
quality
of
the
visual
effects
is
above
average
but
oft
seen
and
forgettable.
Effectively,
"The
Lazarus
Effect" is
not
worth
your
leisure
time.