PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Growing up, Rampage was one of my favorite video games to play, whether it be console or arcade. When the feature film was announced, I was cautiously optimistic. After seeing the trailer to the film, which obviously took several liberties with the source material, I thought it looked like a fun creature feature. No more, no less. Recently Rampage hit Blu-ray and I finally able to check it out. Did it manage to deliver a good time?
Rampage is the latest film from director Brad Peyton (Incarnate 2016). The film stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Primatologist Davis Okoye shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry transforms this gentle ape into a raging monster. As these newly created monsters tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.
What I Liked
I really enjoyed the cast. You can tell everyone was having a blast and hamming it up a little bit. The Rock, Naomie Harris and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have great chemistry and play off each other very well. The creatures look solid and have some unique abilities that differentiate them from their video game counterparts. The action is well done, especially the final 3 way battle between the creatures, which is pretty jaw dropping. The relationship between The Rock and George the gorilla is developed well and quickly. It gives the film a little bit of heart and weight, which keeps it from being a brainless blockbuster creature feature.
What I Didn’t Like
The film has some major tonal issues, not knowing whether it wants to completely commit to being a fun and light creature feature. We are given some pretty despicable human villains who will kill anyone who stands in the way of their goals, which are all centered around great evil, including letting their own employees (Marley Shelton and Joe Manganiello in brief roles) die fairly horrific deaths. This cold blooded behavior isn’t limited to the villains, as all the human are led to grotesque deaths by our heroes, who are never forced to answer for their crimes. The film has some editing issues. We don’t really get a feel for the creatures journey. They are just in one place, and then next time we see them, they are somewhere else completely. The biggest flaw the film has is Lizzie, one of the game series’ principal characters. In the film, she is a brutal and intimidating presence. The problem is, she just doesn’t get much screen time, showing up in the final 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Rampage is a fun but flawed film. The tone is all over the place, the editing is inconsistent, and Lizzie has minimal screen time. That being said, the film is action-packed, filled with awesome one liners and a cast with great chemistry. You could do far worse for a weekend rental.
