“It must be more than a polar vortex,” asserts the climate scientist/immunologist of The Asylum’s godawful disaster movie . No line better encapsulates this genre of low-budget crap, in which there can never be just one catastrophe. In the case of , an earthquake causes a “polar vortex”, which requires the world’s entire population to migrate to Ecuador.
You would think the US government would make a special effort to transport the two scientists with knowledge of the cure (or vaccine – it was never clear) to the deadly virus assailing the world. But no. Instead, they must make the treacherous journey alone, the “cure” (a water bottle containing what look like yellow glow sticks) precariously stowed in a backpack.
“I urge you too not to be deterred by the two-star ratings” is but one example. The Asylum – and other production companies geared to quantity over quality – are well-known for such masterpieces, whether that be , or . All are objectively terrible with bad acting, poor visual effects and contrived plots.
Yet, for some reason, they have become a staple of our household, with the whole family laughing more than at most comedies. Few other experiences forge as strong bonds as guffawing over the “shocked” faces of three mediocre actors confronted with a tsunami/earthquake/epidemic. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration.
But I certainly have treasured memories of watching such drivel and I urge you too not to be deterred by the two-star ratings.