I can’t say The Lazarus Effect doesn’t get straight to the point as this “back from the dead” thriller runs only 83 minutes and even less than that if you don’t count the credits. But while it doesn’t necessarily waste much time getting into the thick of things and features a relatively notable cast, it doesn’t really offer anything all that new and strangely turns into something of a lackluster, nightmare vision of Luc Besson’s Lucy. I swear, I need to learn how to use all 100% of my brain at once, the possibilities are endless!
The story centers on a group of researchers who stumble on a serum with the potential to bring the dead back to life. However, during a test trial something goes wrong and one of the lead researchers, Zoe (Olivia Wilde), is electrocuted and dies. Her fiancee and co-lead on the project, Frank (Mark Duplass), does the obvious. Unfortunately for Frank and the rest of the team, their Lazarus Project has a few unexpected side effects.
Zoe is given a back-story, meant to provide a few avenues for the story to expore once she goes dark and screenwriters Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater do attempt to explore the idea of “God vs. science” in a somewhat interesting way, but the overall result is rather slight. There isn’t very far for director David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi) to take the story other than to turn out the lights (seriously, even when they’re working they hardly turn on a light) and ask Wilde to stare creepily into the distance as her peers attempt to stay alive.
There really isn’t much else to say. The performances are fine considering all Wilde has to do is stare and occasionally say something sinister. Duplass just looks worried and supporting characters played by Donald Glover, Sarah Bolger and Evan Peters are nothing more than victims. There was even one point during my screening where one member of the audience, near the end of the film, yelled out, “Oh no, a sequel.” It’s that kind of movie and as for the sequel, don’t hold your breath.
