Simplicity is often underestimated. The Lazarus Effect shows what you can accomplish with a modest budget. What I loved about the film was its setting. Almost the entire film takes place in one scientific lab. The filmmakers make great use of the lab’s space, but also leave much of the lab unknown. Although as an audience member you have a general sense of the lab, you never get a clear-cut blueprint of where everything is. The filmmakers use this so well to their advantage once things start going wrong. As an audience member you feel helpless because you have no idea where Zoe (Olivia Wilde) is and where to look.
The film is by no means great and is only a little above average at best. The fault lies with its story more than anything else. The writers appeared to think they could do anything they wanted with the story. This resulted in the movie not having a clear focus after everything is finally placed on the table. The acting in The Lazarus Effect was crucial. Very few horror movies ever have good, consistent acting. All of the actors in the movie are good, especially Olivia Wilde. The Lazarus Effect shows how much a horror film can benefit when you have a great cast to support a script that isn’t particularly good or original. The Lazarus Effect is entertaining for its entire duration, but unfortunately its screenplay is inadequate.
5.5/10.0
Film Addiction w/ Maxwell Carter 