Think of a dozen films, take scenes and themes from these films and put them in a cannon. Then shoot them into the lush landscape of Scotland. Add in some cannibalism and you've got Neil Marshall's lastest film, Doomsday. There are so many plots and elements ripped off to piece this story together that a running tally is necessary to keep track.
The plot… well yes, there is a plot. Much like 28 Days Later (1st rip), we are in Great Britain, where a deadly virus known as “The Reaper” decimates Scotland. A wall is erected and guarded to keep people out like Resident Evil Apocalypse (2nd rip). Thirty years pass, and the virus suddenly appears in London.
Super Secret Team Leader
Enter Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra) who is to lead a crack team over the wall and find a cure if there is one. Sinclair is a super agent, she kills without hesitating, is in peak physical shape, and has a nifty electronic eye that she takes in and out and throws around on the ground, where it manages to always land up so she can see just what is going on in that James Bond (3rd reference) way. Her superior Nelson (Bob Hoskins) seems to be the only leader type concerned with her safety and finding a cure (of course, if there is one). The prime minister (Alex Siddig) and Canaris (super slimy David O’Hara) are more concerned with spinning the situation properly. Oh yes, and it turns out Kane (Malcolm McDowell) is a scientist who went over years ago and never came back.
Sinclair and her team (most of who nod once, say hello and then die) go into the depths and before you know it are shooting their way out of overwhelming hordes of paint wearing, shirtless types with Mohawks. They move a lot like the Baseball Furies from The Warriors (4th source), all anger and presentation, with nothing but blood lust in their sites. Some of the team is killed, a few are taken hostage, and we meet the leader of the crazy group Sol (Craig Conway). He beats on Sinclair and bites her. We see a gimp in the corner (Pulp Fiction, 5th rip-off). He screams and shouts, then walks away. Sinclair escapes as the horde outside cooks alive and then cannibalizes one of her team. Oh yes, and we see him cook, and we see them skewer him, cutting off pieces to be served to the masses.
Sinclair escapes with the remains of her team Norton (Adrian Lester), Sterling (Darren Morfitt), and the daughter of Kane (MyAnna Buring) after killing the inept guards and having a vicious face off with Sol’s lady, who dies like you would predict, but because the editing is more frenetic than a music video we never really see anything. Her demise is however, quite amusing in that sick, sardonic, way that a film that cooks people in front of you can deliver.
They escape into the woods where we meet an iron clad knight straight out of Excalibur (6th rip), in a forest that certainly looks like it belongs in Prince of Thieves (7th "inspiration"). The survivors then come before Kane, and much explaining is done. Once the exposition is over Sinclair is thrust into a Braveheart (8th rip) and Gladiator (9th "borrowed idea") scenario with more head on gore than either of those films deliver.
The movie is coming to an end but not before scenes that look like they were dropped from The Road Warrior (10th rip-off), Escape From New York (11th rip), and an extended car commercial (12th ripped off idea, why not). Then the movie ends on a silly note that really solves nothing.
Director Neil Marshall Creates Mindless Gore-Fest
So what do you have? A movie that jumps around faster than a music video, with people getting cooked, decapitated, shot, and blown up. What about the virus? Well, it kind of gets shoved in there too. Along with knights in full armor, horses, Bentleys, and body paint.
Directed by Neil Marshall who also made The Descent, Doomsday is sickeningly gory, with editing that makes Tony Scott’s Domino (13th referenced film) tame. The movie was not screened for critics, and it is easy to see why. Still, there is something to be said for the soundtrack, and the cinematography. When the film is not in hyper edited mode it is lush and full of color. Rhona Mitra is stunning to look at, but she is never really given much to do here other than shoot, swing, pull out an eye, and look really good in tight black clothing. For a totally mindless gore-fest with some sick humor, this is your movie. Other than that, you’re not missing out on anything.
All character/actors referenced via IMDB
