I wasnt really too sure what to expect with this one, the marketing for it had made it look like it was going to be some kind of zombie horror flick. But I was actually kind of pleasently surprised that this thing subverted expectation in the grossest most unpleasent way imaginable.

The film largely follows a gross…GROSS man named Kai. Kai only really has two interests. having aggressive dirty sex and low hygiene standards. In the opening of the film, we find Kai having sex with his bosses wife. When the boss comes home earlier than planned, he threatens to kill Kai who somehow manages to turn the tables, murdering his Boss, his bosses friend and the bosses wife, before attempting to murder the Bosses kid. Only got get caught in the act where he promptly flees, catching a plane to Africa.

Once there he sets up working in a restaurant as a chef, preparing meals and helping the owners secure meat. While heading out to collect a whole pig for the lowest price possible however, him and his boss encounter a tribe performing some kind of ‘healing’ ritual, and while heading back Kai finds a woman passed out on the road and decides to SA her…little does he know the woman actually has Ebola, and shes just passed it onto Kai.

And basically; the rest of the film is Kai committing ludicrously disgusting acts, while spreading the ebola about like nobodies business. in what is a genuinely unpleasent and grubby little Cat 3 that I feel does its job a little *too* well.

The scripts really solid, marrying up a queasy offering of vomit, blood, guts and gore. gross sex scenes, sexual assault and nihilism with a strangely toned humour that gives the film a slight comedy edge. its a surpisingly refreshing watch that…While grim, is totally mesmorising in terms of how the awfulness plays out. Especially in the third act, where the police cotton on that somone is spreading Ebola in the city…and we KNOW who that someone is, but noone else does. it really adds a nice layer of suspense to things.

On top of that, the films really nicely paced. maybe a *tad* slower than I personally would have liked, I reckon this could have been 15 minutes shorter and much better for it. It has a good tone, theres a nice 3 act structure that effortlessly transitions between those acts. The characters have a rich level of detail about them and its nice to see how the powe play dynamics shape and shift these characters across the runtime.

On top of that the direction is razor, with a very clear vision of what was wanted from the production, barring one or two slightly ropey shot and effect choices (its more a victim of age and 4k scanning than of quality in and of itself) this thing shows a clear and precise coordination between cast and crew to deliver a super tight end product.

The cast direction in and of itself is breathtaking to say the least, with the director clearly and confidently guiding the cast through several very intricate scenes. There seems to be a little bit of allowance for improvisation, but equally its clear that there was a vision and blueprint for this production, and I really enjoyed seeing these characters REALLY throw themselves about and get into the part.

The cine is top tier as well with not only an unflinching look at the utter grossness of Kai. But the horrific effects of Ebola in full swing, expect plenty of vomit, bleeding uncontrollably, urine, and germ particles throughout. Its handled so well compositionally and creatively in terms of creating a style, that I really did feel like I needed a shower after this thing, It actually kind of reminded me of Sam Raimi and Peter Jacksons early works visually. Throw in a very considered edit that, while I feel it could be shorter, was VERY precise, militantly cut and given more than enough room to breath, this is a very intimate edit that I feel will make people feel warm and uncomfortably clammy.

The performances are all absolutely incredible, delivering very real and vivid scenes that are highly animated and terribly uncomfortable to sit through. I did enjoy the subtle contrast of macarbre humour and unrelenting bleakness of this whole thing. they give a great emotive range, have a wide physicality and get. the job. DONE.

Throw in a very oppressive but perfectly suited score, and while ‘Ebola Syndrome’ wont be one I feel like I could watch often. I cant deny that I had a lot of fun with this thing and it was nice to see a CAT 3 that really earned it’s label. definitely recommended…just…keep some Antibac cleaner near you…for comfort.

EDIT: OH YEH! and they also kill a CRAPTON of live animals in this thing and mutilate a CRAPTON of dead ones. Like I say, this one isnt for the feint of heart. But if you appreciate a film that takes incredibly bleak plots and peppers them with macarbre humour, you’ll probably get on with this…

source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/ebola-syndrome/