Afflicted - Lisa's Review (2013)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

So, in this break from the lists of movies we review.  The first choice of this month for me is canadian movie 'Afflicted'.  This movie follows friends Derek and Clif (who just so happen to have directed this movie as their directorial debut) as they set off on a venture for their "Ends of the Earth" web travel series.  For this reason most of the movie is done in that ever popular 'Camcorder style'. They set off on the journey against the advice of Dereks doctor.  He is suffering from (wait.... must google) an AVM (cerebral arteriovenous malformation) which could end his life at any moment.  They don't know enough about it to understand what could happen to him and how they will cope with any unexpected developments.

Sadly during the course of their trip, whilst in Italy, Derek becomes ill.  Very ill.  He starts exhibiting very strange and disturbing symptoms, which initially can be linked to his illness but soon start to get into a whole other realm. Then again when you're talking diseases which affect the brain, there is only so much that is understood.

Clif tries to convince Derek to return home to no avail.  He becomes dreadfully ill, cannot eat, is sleeping for days at a time, is passing out and is projectile vomitting.  Alongside this he is also exhibiting strength, speed and agility unlike anything that could belong to any man when he has had what he needs to recuperate.  As time goes on there starts to be a line where the old Derek ended and this new version began.

I could go into more detail about the illness, its effects and changes in Derek, but since I really enjoyed this movie, I don't want to give any more away than I already have.  I went into this one with no idea what it was about and I think I enjoyed it all the more for not knowing.

I was really impressed with this debut from Derek Lee and Clif Prowse (yup, they kept their names).  It had a lot of elements of movies I've seen before, but it is virtually impossible to come up with a completely new concept.  Regardless there were some elements I hadn't seen before, or at least not seen all together in the same movie.  

The acting, shooting and storyline are all good, so it's without hesitation I can give this one a thumbs up.  Recommended.