The Lazarus Effect | Movie Review

Equal parts Frankenstein, Carrie, and Flatliners (with a pinch of Pet Cemetary) – The Lazarus Effect revolves around several doctors who have found a way to revive the dead. Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde star as Frank and Zoe, lead doctors (and lovers) who stumble across the means to resuscitate an animal long after it has inhaled its last breath.

After a pharmaceutical company confiscates their materials, the team (also consisting of Evan Peters, Donald Glover, and Sarah Bolger) break into the lab in an effort to duplicate their experiment and reclaim their research. Since this is a horror film, everything goes wrong, which inevitably leads to Zoe’s death. Deciding he needs to save his love, Frank plays God and uses his experiment to bring Zoe back…unleashing hell on earth in the process.

The Lazarus Effect is a prime example of a horror film that is simply trying too hard. It seems to want to incorporate every element of the films mentioned above, without any of the detail or subtext. It also introduces elements of religion vs. science, yet does not realistically address the debate nor thoroughly explores it. The schizophrenic script by Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater carries much of the blame, as the film minimally addresses what is truly going on with Zoe, and it barely attempts to follow its own rules through to the end.  If you think too hard about this story, you’re likely to develop an aneurism of your own.

Evan Peters and Donald Glover are fine as mutual scientists of the ‘We really shouldn’t be doing this’ variety, but Mark Duplass is woefully miscast as the Dr. Frank. (Frank. As in Frankenstein. Get it?) Anyway, Duplass is a gifted comedic actor but drama simply is not his forte and any time a serious dramatic moment was needed, Duplass simply could not fit the bill. The only actor really trying here is Wilde, who apparently was the only one who got the memo that could ACT, if she was so inclined.

Director David Gelb strives to craft an engaging horror film, but the script just refuses to cooperate. A few BOO scares do little to alleviate the feeling that we have seen this film elsewhere…and done much better. Clever ideas only work if you find an engaging way to expand upon them in the final script, and sadly that is just not the case here. Save your money, The Lazarus Effect is nothing more than a late-night rental.

Starring Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Donald Glover
Written by Luke Dawson, Jeremy Slater
Directed by David Gelb

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider