The Taint Review

• 6th Jan 2011

Every now and again you sit in front of a film and your emotional reaction pulls you in two very different directions!

Yes it’s a mixed emotions title which at its worst is poorly scripted, even more poorly acted and quite gross – but at its best is often funny, even hilarious, extremely inventive and provides more shock and schlock than your average blockbuster dares to present.

The Taint is a very low budget almost student type affair that sees the world falling foul of new kind of disease. Yes… you catch this baby and you will suddenly turn into a savage with a 14” erect cock from your trousers and go rampaging after anyone who is there to be chased. Sadly women seem to get the worst end of this treatment. Limbs are ripped off, bodies set aflame, faces torn from the skull and even giant erections are forced through heads!

You have never seen such poor acting in your life. But the film-makers are not out to win those sort of awards. What they need to be given credit for is their inventive stylistics. This film should be seen by any wannabe film maker out there to show them that you don’t need a huge budget to make a film and that even low budget horror can with the right expertise actually make an impact. Some of the blood effects in this film are actually quite good! The editing and blend of assisted CGI make for some truly gruesome images that will encourage a reaction of some kind from the audience.

Yes it is all a bit foul and makes very little sense but in a world gone mad what does? The script isn’t really worth talking about as that just leads to problems of plot and characterisation and this film displays very little of either. They do make an effort to give us back story and in the second half demonstrate this at great length. All it really does is just distract from the action.

If low budget horror thrills and gore is your thing then I cannot recommend this more. It is a cut above in that respect and needs a cult audience fast. It stays in the mind after viewing – whether you want it to or not.

Can we really blame budget and acting talent for the shortcomings of a picture? Generally yes, but as far as The Taint goes it isn’t like there is ever going to be a big budget version of this ever to come our way any time soon. So with that in mind you forgive the bad and accept it with a chuckle and fully embrace what they got right.

The brain child of Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson, who both took on the majority of the major job roles on this film also present a DVD Commentary which is fun to listen too – despite them having a few friends in the room who are not audible at all.

To check out more info on The Taint go to: http://www.taintmovie.com/

Steven Hurst