Themes: End of the World, When Animals Attack, Race Against Time
Main Cast: Treat Williams
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
At a secret laboratory in the Mojave Desert, a renegade scientific unit of the U.S. military is working on a top-secret project that involves breeding poisonous rattlesnakes that develop a highly contagious virus. But enemy terrorists, in a botched effort to steal the snakes, destroy the lab, releasing the rattlers into the wild. Years later, an earthquake unleashes hordes of aggressive, virus-infected rattlesnakes on a remote town. As the viral epidemic begins killing town doctor Henning's (Treat Williams) friends and family, corrupt military officials plan to blow up the town with a massive firebomb to cover up the incriminating source of the diabolical disease. With the Stealth plane carrying the bomb headed Dr. Henning's way, and with the town littered with dying citizens, Henning has to find a way to save the day -- and perhaps the planet. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Review
Virus-infected poisonous rattlesnakes -- now there's a B-movie plot a director can sink his fangs into. Director Fred Olen Ray, using Ed Raymond as his ninth pseudonym, keeps the throttle open so as to leap over gaping holes in the plot, and action fans not expecting too much will be pleased with the results. Treat Williams (whatever happened to his career? He was so good in Hair) could have used a little more caffeine on the set during filming, but the rest of the cast, particularly the rubber, robotic, and real snakes, provide able support. Yes, every minute of it is ridiculous, especially the way Dr. Henning stops the jet that's within seconds of nuking the town, but there's a place on the shelf for cheesy thrillers. Ray, or Raymond, makes sure this action-packed B-movie has more than its share of chilling thrills and fiery set pieces. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
