Pathology (2008)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Marc Schölermann

Writers (WGA):

Mark Neveldine (written by) &
Brian Taylor (written by)

Release Date:

11 April 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

No body is safe.

Plot:

A group of medical students devise a deadly game: to see which one of them can commit the perfect murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Pathology | Graduate | Student | Game

Cast

Milo Ventimiglia	...	Ted Grey
Michael Weston	...	Jake Gallo
Alyssa Milano	...	Gwen Williamson
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Juliette Bath
Johnny Whitworth	...	Griffin Cavenaugh
John de Lancie	...	Dr. Quentin Morris
Mei Melançon	...	Catherine Ivy
Keir O'Donnell	...	Ben Stravinsky
Buddy Lewis	...	Harper Johnson
Dan Callahan	...	Chip Bentwood
Larry Drake	...	Fat Bastard
Med Abrous	...	Young Pathology Resident
Alan Blumenfeld	...	Mr. Williamson
Gary Buckner	...	Motherfucker
Jeb Burris	...	Worker

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing and perverse behavior throughout, including violence, gruesome images, strong sexual content, nudity, drug use and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Ireland:18 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #43860) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:R | Germany:18 (cut) | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | Finland:K-18 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In order to prepare for their roles, several cast members watched a number of real autopsies.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the doctors slam the Asian man's corpse into the wall (on the gurney), it is clear that the actor puts his hands up defensively before he falls.

Quotes:

Jake Gallo: Are you playing fair?
Ted Grey: Is there such a thing?
Jake Gallo: No.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

A lot of potential but a bit of a yawn really

Now this looks great on paper. The core idea revolves around a group of pathology interns playing murderous games after dark. Commit the smartest murder you can, submit it to the group who then have to work out how you did it. There's a quality idea in there and plenty of opportunity for a gritty and intelligent thriller exploring the darker side of our naturally murderous psyches. It's pretty obvious that's not what the writers of "Crank" are going to give you though.

In practise it all feels a tad eighties, like a cross between "Flatliners" and "The Lost Boys", and when the edgy bad boy pathologists are roaming the halls it's like the brat pack never went away. However, where Keifer Sutherland's pack of vampires were an understandably seductive prospect, it's impossible to believe that all it would take was some gentle bullying and a hint of potential lesbian action to turn Milo Ventimiglia's posh grade A super student into a murderous crack addict.

Still, suspend your disbelief and that's forgive-able. There is some good fun here, particularly in the performances which are all pretty decent, and things (ahem) perk up whenever Alyssa Milano is on screen. The main problem is how hard the movie tries to be adult, and the constant swearing, rutting and drug use has a whiff of "Hollyoaks In The City" desperation about it. It's such a constant barrage that it becomes, well, a bit dull unfortunately. Shame, there's a good movie in there somewhere and with a defter touch and a bit more maturity this could have been pretty special.