The Vanguard (2008) 6/10

I'm always on the search for that new indie horror gem. I have to sift through quite a few crapfests, as any reader of this blog can attest to, but every now and then I find something really interesting. The Vanguard is one of these films.

Set in the future evil corporations have created the ultimate soldier called biosyns. The problem is that the biosyns are basically zombies and their plague can be spread. Enter human slave soldiers sent to wipe out every biosyn before they wipe out humanity. One lone non-slave human has survived in the wilderness surrounded by biosyns due to a genetic immunity. A rebel slave soldier finds this sole survivor and realizes his immunity is the hope for mankind. Now he must get this survivor to the authorities before the biosyns get them, and before the slave soldiers find the rebel and kill him for rebelling. Whew, quite a complicated plot huh?

The problem with the Vanguard is that the story is very complicated, but the plot isnt. We have to sit through a huge opening monologue to explain the story, but then the plot is really simple. Guy in woods fights zombies. He's immune to the plague. Now he must get to the authorities to save the human race from infection. That's really it. But instead we have to learn about Biosyns and evil corporations, wars, soldiers, conditioning camps etc. Its way too much back story for a simple film. That said the film does work well. Good action scenes that are competently choreographed, decent acting, and beautiful post color saturation.

The film is short and sweet and works well, especially given the limited budget. They're not reinventing the wheel here but doing something new with an old idea, and doing it well.

Gore-medium

Nudity- none

Overall - 6/10