A beautiful hemophage infected with a virus that gives her superhuman powers has to protect a boy who is thought to be carrying antigens that would destroy all hemophages.
Ultraviolet burnt my retinas with its high intensity filter. The all too common trait of "style over substance" strikes again. Except this time there is absolutely no substance in what is an instantly forgettable generic plot. But I'll be damned, what a euphorically surreal ride this was! I'm certain my eyes were bleeding afterwards. A woman infected with a vampiric disease plans to overthrow a futuristic government before her kind are exterminated. How does she do it? Advanced martial arts, obviously! She doesn't just tackle twenty armed individuals atop an imposing needle skyscraper. Oh no, she singlehandedly wrecks an entire army of seven hundred, with just a sword and a plethora of firearms. Only director Wimmer could capture the technique of "Gun Fu" whilst creating a vividly imaginative dystopian environment. Alas, the film is awful. There's no escaping this entirely subjective view. Anyone who watches this will immediately feel nauseated by the obnoxious style Wimmer forces upon us. From low octane inexplicable action sequences to visual effects resembling a retro PlayStation game. The exaggerative aesthetic appeal masquerades a deceptively thin plot with minimal character development and a basic narrative structure. Action, exposition, action, exposition, final showdown, the end. The acting was bland and monotonous, aside from Jovovich who is always a pleasure to watch...and her stomach, where every single frame resembled Darude's 'Sandstorm' music video. Yet, somehow beneath my thick film critiquing skin, I succumbed to the absurdity. Motorcycling through a helicopter mid-air, flaming sword fight, constant hair and clothing colour transitions for no apparent reason, gravity belt for both herself and the motorcycle, "3D me" and technology so outrageously unique that my eyes glistened with delight. Possibly the weirdest film experience ever. So visually blinding, that you begin to question if the horrific style was actually on purpose. Did I really witness a hidden stylised masterpiece? No, don't be stupid. Forgettable and laughably executed. Shame, Jovovich deserves better...
