Review: Guinea Pigs (15)

A single location, a tight ensemble and some impressive work with light and sound mark out writer/director Ian Clark, making his feature debut, as a talent to watch.

The tale is brutally told. A group of strangers arrive at a remote laboratory and testing centre to trial a new drug. They are given little information other than they will have no contact with the outside world.

Right away cocky fitness fanatic Jed suffers some kind of fit. Asif wants to go home, especially when he sees another volunteer make a run for it. Veteran Marty tells a creepy tale of terror about a previous test, and how it was hushed up. Thus the groundwork is laid for the hours to come...

At its most basic Guinea Pigs is a haunted house chiller with hapless victims whittled down one by one by monsters that pounce from the shadows.

Aficionados of horror will see the affected maniacs as a cross between zombies and the infected of 28 Days Later. The scares are hit-and-miss but Clark manages some nervy jolts. Worth a look.

On staggered release