Mutants   Starring: David Morlet and Hélène De Fougerolles Momentum Pictures RRP: £15.99 MP1022D Certificate: 18 Available 10 May 2010

A pandemic virus (no, not pig flu) has turned the majority of the population into savage, bloodthirsty creatures. Marco and Sonia are medics; they are attempting to find the safe haven of the Noah military base, accompanied by a serious and somewhat paranoid female soldier. When they call into a seemingly abandoned fuel station, a confrontation with an autistic man leaves the soldier dead and Marco infected. Sonia has previously been bitten, and discovered she is somehow immune. With this in mind, she tells Marco there is hope. Taking refuge in an empty hospital building, Sonia attempts to monitor Marco's deteriorating condition by giving him blood transfusions and regular injections. Soon she has to lock him up - just as the building is set upon by mercenaries. Sonia might need Marco's help, but his transmogrification means he may not even know her anymore...

Ever since George Romero's Night of the Living Dead broke new ground, there have been countless zombie movies which walk exactly the same ground. Needless to say, for increased gore instead of originality I'm not a lover of this sub-genre. Every so often, however, an example surprises me by being a little different. Recent examples include Dance of the Dead, and The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue.

When I first discovered that this was a French film with English subtitles, I thought the difference in culture might give Mutants a refreshing edge. I was sadly mistaken. It tries its hardest to emulate the style of 28 Days Later and its sequel, but doesn't quite pull it off. I realise that Marco's gradual change is at the heart of the story, but not enough of interest takes place to sustain the plot. Additionally, the idea of the safe base is lifted straight from J. Michael Straczynski's Jeremiah series; in fact, even the base, Noah, is named after the character in charge of Thunder Mountain in Jeremiah.

A well-made but average zombie film, improved by the final climatic scene in the compound.

5

Ty Power