Pathology (2008)

I went to see this movie without any prior expectations (I hadn't seen the trailer).

After a slow start the plot progressed steadily and managed to hold my attention despite Milo Ventimiglia's "smell the fart" acting. The copious amounts of gore seem excessive in the beginning, but generally add to the overall "shock factor" of the movie. Along with some in your face, sometimes slightly disturbing, sex scenes, this film is definitely NOT FOR THE LIGHTHEARTED.

Without giving too much away, this movie relies upon a classic mentor/apprentice rivalry. Despite being involved in sick extra curricular activities, main character Ted Grey manages to hold the viewer's empathy. The climatic ending of the film leaves you feeling satisfied yet a little sick in the stomach.

Fmovies: After being burned repeatedly at BlockBuster and Redbox by renting (or even buying) the crappiest horror flicks i.e. Tooth and Nail, Hide and Creep, Crazy Eights and other horribly made horror films--it was finally a "hit" with "Pathology!" I saw the film for sale in a used DVD bin. I carefully examined the cover looking for tell tale signs of a low budget stinker. Sometimes you can tell by the studio (Full Moon) or the so called favorable reviews-- even the type face used in the cover art can reveal if a film may be a bomb. As I stated before, I had a run of bad movie rentals and buys so I was surprised to find one that was not only good, it was great!! I had plunked down 7 bucks for Pathology and it was worth every penny. Great visuals of the lowest decadent behavior you can imagine. Autopsies, sadistic sex, drug use, revenge and so much more. Fast paced editing with interest levels held high, I was engrossed in this tight little movie. Believable acting with a gold star going to the actor playing Dr. Jake Gallo. When there are scenes in a movie that make a life long horror fan such as myself turn away in disgust, I know it's a winner!!

Hi friends - I'm going to be honest here, PATHOLOGY really impressed and surprised me. On the surface PATHOLOGY seems like a fun, silly, popcorn movie (from the writers of CRANK) in the vein of FLATLINERS or ANATOMY – however, excellent direction, great photography, and solid performances really elevate this little horror/thriller and make it so much better than I (and I'm assume you) could expect. It's a shame that MGM hung this movie out to dry in the theaters but I'm guessing it's because they didn't know how to market it. You see: PATHOLOGY is kind of immoral, mean spirited, filled with sex, and features some great medical based gore – my (and I'm assuming your) kind of movie – but certainly not an easy sell. I guess at it's core PATHOLOGY is a fun, silly, popcorn movie but it's executed so well that it rises above the rest of the trash in the theater right now (4.20.08). So check this movie out – I think you (and you) will like it.

Pathology fmovies. A group of pathologists kill people in unique ways and see if the others can determine how the victims were done in. Their fun and games are threatened when they invite a newbie into their little fold.

This is damn fine entertainment. Sure, the film often stretches one's suspension of disbelief pretty thin, but this is one of those films I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. I rented it on a whim and had a good time with it. It's a pretty nasty piece of work too. I personally find this kind of thing more disgusting than the typical hack and slash. Lauren Lee Smith has a sizable role, so that's a plus, and Larry Drake pops up briefly, though I didn't realize it was him until I saw his name in the credits. Weird since he's so recognizable. Oh, and Alyssa Milano is here as well.

"Pathology" may be too clinical for some, and may be too out there for others. Personally, I thought it was a good deal of fun. I must add, I found the main character to be the least likable person in the movie. He's one of those guys who you just long to see get cut up.

Now this looks great on paper. The core idea revolves around a group of pathology interns playing murderous games after dark. Commit the smartest murder you can, submit it to the group who then have to work out how you did it. There's a quality idea in there and plenty of opportunity for a gritty and intelligent thriller exploring the darker side of our naturally murderous psyches. It's pretty obvious that's not what the writers of "Crank" are going to give you though.

In practise it all feels a tad eighties, like a cross between "Flatliners" and "The Lost Boys", and when the edgy bad boy pathologists are roaming the halls it's like the brat pack never went away. However, where Keifer Sutherland's pack of vampires were an understandably seductive prospect, it's impossible to believe that all it would take was some gentle bullying and a hint of potential lesbian action to turn Milo Ventimiglia's posh grade A super student into a murderous crack addict.

Still, suspend your disbelief and that's forgive-able. There is some good fun here, particularly in the performances which are all pretty decent, and things (ahem) perk up whenever Alyssa Milano is on screen. The main problem is how hard the movie tries to be adult, and the constant swearing, rutting and drug use has a whiff of "Hollyoaks In The City" desperation about it. It's such a constant barrage that it becomes, well, a bit dull unfortunately. Shame, there's a good movie in there somewhere and with a defter touch and a bit more maturity this could have been pretty special.

When brilliant Doctor Ted Grey gets a job working in a University Pathology lab, he falls in with a group of young brilliant doctors led by Doctor Jake Gallo. Grey discovers that the others are playing a game where one doctor kills a person and the others have to work out how it was done. As Grey gets caught up in this, can he find a way out, or is he in too deep....

Pathology is written by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor. They wrote the insane and fun action movie CRANK. This movie while not as funny as Crank is still insane! The plot is quite daft, and it has to be said full of plot-holes. This could be the result of scenes being cut from the movie, but this didn't bother me at all.

Simply put, this movie was fun.

The cast led by Milo Ventimiglia as Grey and Michael Weston as Gallo are all good. The direction by Marc Schoelermann keeps things moving at a brisk pace. As befits a movie about Pathology doctors, it is quite gory and bloody, but it is never over the top.

Although not a movie that will win many awards, for it's running time, it is very enjoyable and worth watching if you don't take it seriously. One thing though... it may put you off doctors for life!!