The Lazarus Effect

The Lazarus Effect is a supernatural science fiction horror that was released early in 2015. Starring Olivia Wilde, Evan Peters, Sarah Bolger, Donald Glover and Mark Duplass, The Lazarus Effect fuses an interesting and extensive plot into the world of horror.

Plot

Uncovering the bases of the Lazarus serum which is created to help coma patients, Frank and Zoe — engaged medical researchers — realize that they've formulated a code which brings the dead back to life. With videographer Eva and assistant medical researchers Niko and Clay, together the lab of scientists run a successful trial that brings a deceased dog back to life.

Clay notably looks over scans of the dog's brain and realizes that the Lazarus serum is heavily apparent. As days pass, it seems as if the serum refuses to dissipate or takes a longer time than necessary which Frank claims is far from natural. When the dog begins to exhibit excessive bouts of anger and uncontrollable rage, Clay suggests putting it down, but before anymore can be done, the researchers undergo a serious problem.

An unknown individual reports the use of the Lazarus serum to the hierarchy within the field. Frank is called in by his superior who chastises him about the sensitivity levels these experiments give off as she bases complaints off a more religious note. Frank can only think about the feat he's reached and is baffled when all the equipment and test trials are confiscated.

With four years of their life thrown away, Zoe simply can't fathom that their lab research has been sabotaged. The group sneaks their way back to tape one last trial with their remaining Lazarus serum. Hoping to bring another dead dog back to life, Frank and Zoe impulsively rush their way into the first step but don't get far. Fatally electrocuted, Zoe befalls victim of her own brash nature. Frank, unable to come to terms with the death of his fiancée, resurrects her using the Lazarus serum despite the begging and pleading of his lab partners.

When Zoe is brought back, she begins to exhibit unnatural abilities which only elaborate on the strange occurrences around the lab. When researchers end up being victimized or are missing from the rest of the group, it isn't long for the remaining friends to realize what's come back is far from Zoe's pure spirit, but something much more evil.

Overall

While giving off a hardcore Pet Sematary vibe, The Lazarus Effect really was a disappointment both times I've managed to sit down and watch it. While I admit this movie had potential and caught my interest, The Lazarus Effect lacked horror movie basics and was over the top with clichés.

I'm used to Olivia Wilde adorning a white coat and talking all sexy and professional from her role in House. Now apparently I have to get used to a woman who was damned to hell after fatally being electrocuted and who came back as a demon. I will give Olivia props for having the most creepiest lines and also pulling spot on facial expressions while adapting to the demonic monster she's always been.

There are moments in The Lazarus Effect where Olivia's character adorns blank stares or executes behaviors that are so peculiar that it manages to give me goosebumps. It's very rare for me to find people portraying symptoms of possession in movies as anything but ridiculous and far from scary, but Olivia is captivating. She threw me for a loop as I honestly didn't think she could pull off anything but that lab coat. Boy, I was wrong.

Evan Peters is totally on my "Man Crush Monday" list, but I feel like his role was so minuscule and stereotypical in the horror movie genre that it absolutely infuriated me. Has anyone else ever noticed the growing number of potheads that apparently adorn more than enough common sense to try and warn others of coming threats? Clay was known to be an annual smoker who was naturally reprimanded by his colleagues to "cut it out", and while he should've been down a few I.Q points, Clay was still highly alert and in focus through the whole movie.

My point being: you can make an interesting and ten times more successful horror movie by constructing characters that aren't total idiots.

The Lazarus Effect — in my opinion — was written out to play along with a Frankenstein and Pet Sematary twist. What it failed to elaborate on were psychological breakdowns, mad scientists and well thought out characters. Mark Duplass could never be fit enough to give off a 'mad scientist' vibe. Frank's reaction to Zoe's death should've been dripping in shock followed by a sudden, sickening realization that he could use the Lazarus serum. Instead, he was just seen as commander of the group who couldn't stand up and stop this so-called menace from playing god.

The plot in itself wasn't anything special. At times, it really didn't make any sense. I think having used the Lazarus serum to portray the unlocking of full brain usage and incorporating the power of a demon was a bit too extensive. Picking one or the other would've been intricate enough or delving deeper into the Lazarus serum may have made more sense. As far as I know, the Lazarus serum helped bring people back from the dead, but I had no idea that these researchers incidentally befell this feat. A little bit more shock or celebration could've helped us viewers realize this was a total accident.

If you're a fan of Pet Sematary, perhaps The Lazarus Effect will be a modern installation full of scientific phenomenon and undead monsters to help add onto Halloween festivities.