About.com Rating

In general, a horror movie doesn't have to be full of blood 'n guts to be good, but for some, that's where their entire appeal lies. The Cabin Fever films, in which people contract a flesh-eating virus that causes their bodies to decay, are those kinds of movies. And that's OK.

The Plot

Gathered in the Dominican Republic for Marcus' (Mitch Ryan) wedding to rich girl Katia (Claudette Lali), friends Dobbs (Ryan Donowho), Penny (Jillian Murray) and Marcus' ne'er-do-well brother Josh (Brando Eaton) take the groom for a surprise bachelor party boat trip to a supposedly deserted island.

Soon after they arrive, however, Penny takes a dip in the water and immediately develops a severe rash that begins to eat away at her skin. Unable to contact the local who dropped them off and promised to return for them the following day, Marcus and Dobbs head towards a facility they spot on the other side of the island to see if they can find help.

They find the facility -- the Center for Sickness and Contamination -- in shambles with dead bodies everywhere, and it becomes evident that the flesh-eating virus that attacked Penny has already struck here. There are a few people still alive -- facility head Dr. Edwards (Currie Graham) and assistants Camilla (Solly Duran) and Bridgett (Lydia Hearst) -- but the most intriguing individual they encounter is Mr. Porter (Sean Astin), a man described as "patient zero," meaning he's immune to the virus and could be the key to everyone surviving the outbreak...if they don't kill each other first.

The End Result

Contrary to the typical "horror snob" disdain for gore for gore's sake, there's a place for the type of shallow, over-the-top fare showcased in the Cabin Fever films -- sort of like martial arts movies whose threadbare plots are just an excuse to set up a bunch of intricate fight scenes.

It's pulpy, one-dimensional stuff, and when it comes to stomach-turning ickiness, Cabin Fever: Patient Zero delivers the goods.

Frankly, it doesn't have a whole lot going for it -- a mediocre cast, a rail-thin plot (from the writer of the lame Hitcher and When a Stranger Calls remakes) and a budget that seems to preclude the sort of bigger scale that we'd like to see -- but all of that's forgotten when we see boil-covered skin pulled off, decaying limbs snapped like twigs, projectile vomiting and internal organs being yanked out of chest cavities. Even for the jaded horror fan, it's wonderfully revolting stuff. Knowing that viewers' expectations have risen since the first Cabin Fever, the filmmakers have done away with all subtleties, allowing the virus to kick in within seconds of first contact and having the infected barely bat an eye when their skin peels off (What, does the virus eat their nerve endings?).

Director Kaare Andrews' follow-up the enjoyable Altitude is similarly attractive (despite the icky content) and showcases the gore scenes well, although it seems the only way he feels he can imbue the script with a sense of drama is to inject multiple overblown slow motion shots -- which, of course, end up undermining his effort. But really, who needs drama in a Cabin Fever film?

The Skinny

• Acting: C (OK but generally forgettable.)
• Direction: C+ (Effective, albeit overused, slow mo; showcases gore well.)
• Script: C- (Bare bones with thin characters; some questionable character decision-making.)
• Gore/Effects: A- (Well-done, plentiful gore.)
• Overall: C+ (Gleefully grotesque, albeit shallow, entertainment.)

Cabin Fever: Patient Zero is directed by Kaare Andrews and is rated R by the MPAA for language and a sexual gesture. Release date: August 1, 2014 (on demand June 26).