Genre: Thriller
Director: Marc Schoelermann
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Weston, Alyssa Milano, Lauren Lee Smith, Johnny Whitworth, Keir O'Donnell, Dan Callahan, Mei Melancon
RunTime: 1 hr 33 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: R21 (Mature Content)
Official Website: http://www.enterpathologylab.com/

Opening Day: 7 August 2008

Synopsis:

Some say that Pathology is a window to God. As doctors, they see the perversion and corruption of the flesh by all means unnatural...by violence...by toxin...by madness...to determine the cause of death. As a result they are the experts in all signs of foul play and the best in the field can uncover all means of killing, even those that are seemingly undetectable.

When med school student Ted Gray (Milo Ventimiglia) graduates top of his class he joins one of the nation's most prestigious Pathology programs. With talent and determination Ted is quickly noticed by the program's privileged and elite band of pathology interns who invite him into their crowd. Intrigued by his new friends he begins to uncover secrets he never expected and finds that he has unknowingly become a pawn in their dangerous and secret after-hours game at the morgue of who can commit the perfect undetectable murder. As Ted becomes seduced into their wild extracurricular activities the danger becomes real and he must stay one step ahead of the game before he is the next victim.

Movie Review:

At first glance, Pathology seemed pretty much like an interesting movie for friends, or co-workers to watch and then, perhaps, discuss the movie over a cup of coffee afterwards.

Erhm, not.

*Note to readers: Do not be fooled by Pathology as the reviewer was. Also, it’s really misleadingly marketed as a psychological thriller. Gorno/Splatter/Gore would have been a more appropriate description (hence, the R21 rating).

This insidious movie is no way as stylish and polished as its promo materials insinuate: in fact it’s a thoroughly bad, jaunting mixture of Mean Girls/The Covenant/Gossip Girl (characterization-wise) or any other teenage high school drama for that matter, CSI, and Dexter (sans the intelligence, and wit; plus, the unnecessary gore, S+M sex scenes).

Result: a movie swarming with laughable plot advancements, stomach-churning scenes (technology is unbelievable, I must say), and plot holes enormous enough to swallow the cinema whole. Oh, and of course, a movie with a good-looking “model-esque” cast to boot.

We have Ted Grey (Milo Ventimiglia, of Peter from Heroes fame), our morose and brooding protagonist, who joins one of the nation’s most prestigious pathology programs. Talented and foreign, he quickly gains the attention of a group of elite pathology students which includes Jake Gallo (Michael Weston), the gang’s overbearing leader (the jock), Juliette Bath (Lauren Lee Smith), the adventurous and promiscuous temptress (the leader’s girl a.k.a, resident slut who eventually falls for and sleeps with our protagonist), and Griffin Cavenaugh (Johnny Whitworth), the nerd (the annoying joker). On the other end, not forgetting the in adept, and bumbling social loser (played by an actor with a forgettable face… and role), who’s constantly being picked upon.

At first unwilling to be a part of them, dull Ted quickly falls prey to the temptation of their enthralling and exciting lives. See, the group participates in a grisly game of how-did-I-kill-John/Jane-Doe, where they meet up in an abandoned morgue to analyse how the assigned member murdered their victim (and occasionally, to take hallucinatory drugs, and have sex). Soon, he realizes that he wants out because of his undying love for his fiancée (whom he cheats on, in a split second when the chances present themselves, with Juliette) and etc, etc. A charade of boring clichés, really.

It’s annoying to watch a group of good-looking adult actors acting like horny and idiotic 15-year-old privileged teenagers on a rebellious rampage. At the same time, it is extremely unbelievable that interns participating in a prestigious pathology programs will, during an inspection of dead bodies, playfully toss human brains, or crack insanely disrespectful jokes about the bereaved during a prognosis. Anyone would have expected more depth and intelligence from a group of pathologists. By treating the subject material (a serious and macabre one for that matter) lightly – with no valid reasons and any signs of significant plot development –, the movie deals, ironically, itself a hard…. and fatal blow. With that said, the whole basis of Pathology’s unconvincing plot falls flat on its face.

Of course, that leaves nothing much else to say about the acting. Given the clichéd material and unbelievable lines (“Who will you kill? “The guy who invented condoms.”), even the best actors will be reduced to ashes. Don’t expect much of Ventimiglia here. He basically keeps to one signature look throughout the movie: a somber half-sneer. However, I must say one thing: he and Alyssa Milano (in a bit role as Ted’s fiancée) really looked good together. Well, that’s about the only redeeming, albeit worthless, factor in the movie.

Overall, the film felt like it had been slapped together on a whim (Hey, let’s do an unconventional teenage, angst-ridden movie! To get more people to watch, let’s get some well-known TV stars, throw in an unconventional setting to milk everyone’s morbid fascination with death, and gore! Sex! Hurray!), and even the “clever” twist ending is not spared. In fact, it’s a convenient end extremely befitting of Pathology. A small spoiler, which unsurprisingly doubles up as a nugget of tactical advice to teenagers in schools: Even if you are part of the “in” crowd, be kind to the losers.

Pathology is strictly for gore fans. Everyone else is better off spending their 90+ minutes on something more… mentally exhausting. Like for example, cutting your nails.

Movie Rating:



(Meatless piece of crap)

Review by Casandra Wong