Rating summary
| Movie |  | 2.5 |
| Video |  | 3.0 |
| Audio | | 3.0 |
| Extras |  | 4.5 |
| Overall |  | 3.5 |
Pathogen Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 9, 2022
2006’s “Pathogen” puts a film critic in quite a precarious position. On one hand, the movie is created by 12-year-old Emily Hagins, who pours her love
of cinema, especially horror pictures, into the making of this no-budget production. On the other hand, the movie is made by a pre-teen perhaps
unprepared for the technical challenges of the process. “Pathogen” is a riff on zombie outbreak endeavors, this time taking the action to the suburbs
of Austin, TX, where the undead are rising, putting five middle-schoolers in a difficult position to save the world. It’s a backyard effort from Hagins,
who’s sincere in her quest to follow her dream and realize her screenplay, but it’s hard to imagine this feature being of any interest to someone who
doesn’t have a personal connection to the helmer.
In Austin, a mishap at a nanotechnology lab has introduced a virus into the water supply, and those infected are gradually turned into zombies. As the
public panics, monitoring the situation, 12-year-old Dannie (Rose Kent-McGlew) realizes her doomsday dreams are coming true, joining up with a
handful of her schoolmates to better understand what’s happening, working to figure out a way to stop the viral spread.
“Pathogen” has the cinematic presence of a home movie, but Hagins puts in some work to put her stamp on the zombie subgenre, offering an opening
act that explores the origin of the viral issue (blame it on a bumbling janitor). She also presents decent character introductions, as Dannie is the
center of the storm, dealing with nightmares about the zombie apocalypse that’ve come true, requiring some hallway management with other
classmates confused about the growing threat. Dialogue is modest and performances are what one expects from this type of entertainment, and
Hagins tries to make something out nothing, though she can’t always conquer audio issues. Camerawork is a bit more successful, with the helmer
noticeably working on ideas for coverage and movement. “Pathogen” is trying its best, delivering hellraising in the obvious peace of Austin, but those
expecting a more professionally assembled endeavor should probably seek thrills elsewhere.
Pathogen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
"Pathogen" was a digital video production created with commercial grade cameras. The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation only gets
so far with limited resolution, but there's a passable sense of frame information throughout the viewing experience, following the action into homes,
schools, a grocery store, and the streets of Austin, TX. Color is acceptable, reflecting equipment capabilities and some degree of age.
Pathogen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA is also working uphill with the technical demands of "Pathogen," finding the sound recording quite uneven, which is perceptible
during the listening experience. It's not a movie that emphasizes anything beyond scoring cues and soundtrack selections, which remain passably clear.
Dialogue exchanges are restrained by microphone usage, with some lines muddy or faint, but this is an inherent issue.
Pathogen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features writer/director Emily Hagins.
- "Theatrical Premiere Q&A" (6:40, SD) is a brief discussion of "Pathogen" from 2006, with writer/director Emily Hagins joined
by the cast and her mother as they field questions from the audience.
- "Party Killer" (8:36, SD) is a 2007 short film by Emily Hagins.
- "Zombie Girl: The Movie" (91:06, SD) is a feature-length documentary about Emily Hagins and the making of "Pathogen." I
actually covered the picture way back in 2009, and the review is found here.
- A Trailer has not been included on this release.
Pathogen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Again, "Pathogen" is made by a 12-year-old person who loves movies and wanted to make one of her own. The ambition is lovely, but the experience of
sitting through the film isn't quite as electric. Hagins has gone on to other features, including the 2017 Netflix offering, "Coin Heist," and it's impressive
to see her work her way into a career, which is amazing. "Pathogen" is her first offering as a writer/director, and it should be approached as simply as
that, detailing the big dreams of an amateur with a hunger to play bloody games with a big kids, and she actually made it happen.
