Review of The Bay (2012) by Laura K — 03 Nov 2012

Remember those ripped from the headlines horror movies back in the 60s and 70s? Yeah, me either, but films that deal with let's say ecological disasters or major outbreaks of the Motaba virus have truth in that it could really happen. Take 'The Bay' for example. Barry Levinson tackles the found footage genre in another rinse and repeat of the genre. Now I don't really like the found footage genre unless it's done in a way that actually works. 'Blair Witch', 'Grave Encounters' and 'Apollo 18' are the only ones that I actually think are good. 'The Bay' wasn't too bad. It's moments rely heavily on the abstract footage that's been found on Claridge, Maryland.

Donna Thompson is one of the lone survivors of a massive outbreak. She speaks to someone who is off screen most of the time on Skype as she narrates several pieces of found footage from Claridge. The outbreak took place on July 4th 2009. Before it ever occurred, birds and fish have been dying at random. In Claridge, just weeks before the July 4th festival, two oceanographers discover something disturbing in the waters. It turns out that a local chicken coop has been spilling excrement into the water and people drink from that water.

Thankfully a local desalination plant helps filter the excrement out of the water, but the damage has already been done. It turns out the chicken feed was tainted with steroids and with the excrement floating out in the water for who knows how long parasites have been growing and been hitching a ride with the fish. They start out with the tongue before chewing on the insides. They also cause blisters and boils on people.

The film flashes back and forth a few times between the oceanographers who discover this parasite then to the people who have recorded, well, their own demise as the virus kills them and others. It's structure has the texture of an exploitative film with a message on the EPA's lack of interest in doing something about tainted drinking water. It really makes one want to be an alcoholic when you start to discover what's in the drinking water.

A few creepy moments are worth checking out. Just be sure to not drink any water while you watch this film. Instead smoke crack and eat Cheetos.