Synopsis
A slacker awakens to find the world turned into a nightmare. Infestation depicts the humans’ struggle for survival following the invasion of giant insects. After escaping from cocoon-like bonds, Cooper learns that the world is in crisis. The mutant insects, produced by biochemical experiments, use the bodies of humans as hosts and turn them into insect zombies. Cooper joins with Sara and a handful of other survivors to take part in a struggle to save the world. Their adventures resemble a video game in which one dispatches enemies according to established rules in order to advance. Instead of eye-popping technological gimmicks, Infestation opts for low-grade special effects to create a B-movie ambience bridging action and comedy. Indeed, the sloppy transition between scenes becomes a virtue in this low-budget flick. The movie also haphazardly mixes scenes seemingly stolen from familiar fantasy, action, zombie, and monster films. The world’s sudden transformation recalls the opening of Vanilla Sky, while the journey to find one’s family is lifted straight from Blindness. Humans turn into eight-legged insects in scenes reminiscent of The Fly, while the heap of human victims in the insects’ lair brings The Host to mind. More slipshod than earnest, the Infestation still manages to grab your attention. By the time the puppy-turned-giant-insect appears onscreen, you’ll be laughing too hard to worry about humanity’s fate. (LEE Hwa Jeong)