Evilution (2008) Starring Peter-Kaiser, Sandra Ramírez & Nathan Bexton Directed by Chris Conlee Written by Brian Patrick O'Toole

Ultimately, though, I’m not really sure what to think about Evilution. It’s a strange mix of elements, almost like its trying to be several movies at once, and so the quality is uneven between sections. Specifically, the film is part of the Necropolitan Trilogy, a series of films that create an anthology about a building that just appeared in New York one day, and is the setting for many grisly murders and seemingly supernatural happenings. The building should be easy framework for a ‘Tales From the Crypt’ style anthology of stories, and lends itself to especially to mystical or ghostly tales. But, this movie isn’t really about that. In fact, it’s decidedly sci-fi.

The real story is that of a military scientist, Eric Peter-Kaiser as Darren Hall, who is studying a strange chemical that, when exposed to humans, turns them into flesh eating zombies, ala 28 Days Later. He seems to think that the chemical holds the answers of defeating many diseases, and maybe even raising the dead. The other plot twist? The ‘cure’ is actually a strand of sentient, microscopic aliens that can control their host body.

All of this just HAPPENS to take place in the Necropolitan building.

There’s too damn much going on in Evilution to develop properly. There’s magic, zombies, aliens, gang-violence, cop drama, and a love story, there are elements of Re-Animator, Body Snatchers, Dawn of the Dead, and Boys in the Hood all vying for time, and the movie would be much better if a few of these elements were excised. Props for trying something new with the zombie genre, but I don’t think micro aliens is the way to go. If their goal is to ‘assimilate us’ and they seek a peaceful symbiosis…then why do they keep making their hosts go nuts and eat each other? Two of the zombies seem to develop human-like intelligence, why not the rest? Completely lost amid the misplaced alien story is the Necropolitan itself. The building is simply a non-factor in the story. Aside from the creepy caretaker, and the shelving of the chemical next to some crazy, magic-looking book, the building and its history play no part in the story at all. It could be in any tenement square in the city.

But, in the trappings, Evilution does have its strengths. Peter-Kaiser is competent in his roll, as are the building’s caretaker, and the lovely Sandra Ramirez lights up the screen whenever she comes on, especially for her ‘bra and pants on, totally PG’ sex-scene. The zombies all look good too, and are no doubt what garnered this film its ‘best effects’ nod in Chicago (despite a few suspect explosions. Ah well, it’s a screener copy, I’ll let the early effect work slide). In fact, the movie gets pretty good when the zombies do start invading the building, scenes are quick, and tense.

So, I don’t know if the mission was quite accomplished by Evilution. There are some great moments in the film, and a few campy & laughable ones for people who like humor mixed with their zombie films (seriously, anything involving the gang members is worth laughing with). But there’s such a strange mix of stories going on here that the movie keeps stepping on its own toes, developing holes in the story, and taking enough away from each plot line that none of them ever become interesting.

One thing I would be interested in seeing, though, is more about the Necropolitan, and its history, maybe more magic centric stories, or ghost stories, or just any story that uses the building as more than just a background, but as a central plot point. A movie that makes this enigmatic building another part of the cast; if the building is interesting enough to devote three whole movies to it, there has to be a reason for it, right? I may not have fallen in love with Evilution, but I am very interested in checking out its sister films.