Watch Biohazard

Biohazard is a 1985 low-budget science fiction horror film directed by Fred Olen Ray, a filmmaker known for B-movie classics that typically blend campy horror with elements of sci-fi and action. The movie stars Aldo Ray, a former A-list actor whose career included roles in classic Hollywood films but by the 1980s found him starring in B-movie fare. Angelique Pettyjohn, known for her roles in science fiction and exploitation films, and William Fair, also feature in key roles, rounding out the cast with a blend of experience and cult status.

The story of Biohazard follows a secretive government experiment that goes horribly awry. As with many sci-fi horror films of the 1980s, the narrative plays on societal fears of unchecked scientific experimentation, government oversight, and extraterrestrial life. The film poses a "what if" scenario, diving into the consequences of tampering with unknown biological entities and the hazards this poses to humanity.

In the movie, a top-secret government lab deep within the American southwest becomes ground zero for a potentially catastrophic event. The lab has been experimenting with material recovered from a supposed alien craft, under the assumption that harnessing such otherworldly biological material could advance human knowledge and potentially offer weapons or medical breakthroughs. The protagonist, an unsuspecting security guard played by William Fair, stumbles upon the chaos that ensues when one of these experiments loses containment.

Aldo Ray brings his grizzled screen presence to the role of the military commander overseeing the project. He is the embodiment of strict discipline and cold rationality, the personification of the military-industrial complex's drive to control and weaponize anything irrespective of potential consequences. Angelique Pettyjohn plays a scientist who is deeply involved in the project. She is torn between her dedication to scientific progress and the terrifying ethical questions raised by their uncontrollable creation.

The "biohazard" itself is an entity created in the lab through the combination of alien DNA and human scientific ambition. As often is the case with these tales, the creature escapes and poses a deadly threat not just to the people working within the lab, but possibly to all humanity. The creature's design taps into the practical effects and creature-feature aesthetics that were a hallmark of '80s genre cinema. The special effects are a mix of ambitious for the low budget and often charmingly rudimentary, but they serve to create an atmosphere of tension and impending doom as the creature stalks victims within the film's claustrophobic environments.

The narrative thrust of the film involves the attempts to contain the creature, with the facility becoming a locked-down warzone. Ray's military commander orders increasingly drastic measures, while Pettyjohn's scientist grapples with the moral implications of their work and the urgency of stopping the creation she helped bring into existence. The ensemble cast of characters includes other scientists, military personnel, and government officials, each with their own motivations and levels of culpability in the unfolding disaster.

Biohazard plays into the era's fear of contamination and infection, drawing parallels to real-world concerns about bio-warfare and the spread of disease, a theme that resonates with contemporary audiences familiar with these anxieties. The notion that humankind's reach exceeds its grasp is a timeless one, and this film embeds that cautionary tale within its pulp science fiction trappings.

Director Fred Olen Ray handles the proceedings with a certain degree of self-awareness. The film doesn't shy away from its modest production values, and part of the enjoyment for audiences lies in spotting the ingenuity used in stretching the budget to achieve its storytelling aims. The performances across the board match the heightened reality of the film, with the actors engaging in earnest with their roles amidst the fantastical plot.

For fans of cult cinema, Biohazard is reflective of the era's penchant for direct-to-video and drive-in fare, where filmmakers had to be creative with limited resources. Despite or perhaps because of these constraints, the film achieves a certain charm and earnestness. It's a time capsule of the era, capturing the unique intersection of science fiction, horror, and B-movie sensibilities that captivated audiences searching for the next thrills outside of mainstream cinema.

Biohazard may not boast the polished production of a big studio release, but it's precisely this kind of film that has garnered a dedicated following among genre enthusiasts. Its blend of cheesy effects, pulpy storytelling, and a cast of seasoned and niche actors elevates it to a peculiar niche in the pantheon of '80s B-movies. For viewers who appreciate the convergence of horror and science fiction, and are willing to embrace the rough edges of low-budget filmmaking, Biohazard remains an entertaining, albeit obscure, piece of cinematic history.

Biohazard is a 2021 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.6.