The Girl with All the Gifts
T his zombie-infested road trip movie has got a few neat tricks up its gore-caked sleeve, but not quite enough to fully cohere. Imagine if Athlete’s foot grew from your brain stem, and instead of mild discomfort of the toes, you transformed into a psychotic, blood-hungry marauder. Well, that’s pretty much the size of it here, as the human population dwindles rapidly while “hungries” multiply like randy rabbits. Of course, there’s a twist, as a rare second generation of youthful flesh-eaters are able to suppress their cravings. They can talk and think like humans. And like humans, they get hungry once in a while. Their desire to consume manifests as rabid, white-eyed desperation.

The film mixes and matches conventions of this very well worn genre, but is too often a slave to expectation. Mystery is its strongest suite, such as the intriguing opening scenes in which preteens are mysteriously hauled in and out of dank cells with arms, legs and heads shackled for safety. Sadly, there’s not much more of it after that. Sennia Nanua is extremely convincing as young, inquisitive Melanie, a lovable moppet trapped in a purgatory between the living and the dead, made to wear a plastic muzzle lest she get little peckish. A teacher with the bizarre name of Miss Justineau (Gemma Arterton) has taken a shine to her top student, so much so that she often forgets that Melanie wants nothing more than to bite her to death.

Much of the story relies on the frankly weak notion that Justineau’s illogical compassion allows for Melanie’s continued “survival”. And the psychologies are all very straight, with Melanie’s essential goodness never called into question. With Glenn Close’s scientist and Paddy Considine’s solider for company, the crew trek to London with the hope of salvation, whatever that may be.

Director Colm McCarthy has worked primarily in television prior to coming on board here. His flat, functional compositions don’t feel at all cinematic, and are seldom employed to stoke the drama. Visually, there aren’t many ideas. He’s good at getting decent coverage and making sure all the necessary information appears in the frame, but where’s the fun in that?

The Girl with All the Gifts makes for a frustrating experience, mainly because there’s so much good stuff up there on the screen, you wish it was all just a tad more impactful. Aside from the little philosophical conundrums the characters set for one another, the film doesn’t appear to be about anything in particular. The subtext is just text, with its commentary on childrearing, consumerism, overpopulation and human self-annihilation stated in the most blunt terms. The episodic narrative makes it tough to become fully involved in the drama, so you’re left just waiting to see who will drop next. Where the film excels, however, is in the acting, with Nanua taking charge an ace, committed ensemble.

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September 22, 2016 at 09:36AM
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