Parasites

Parasites is a thought-provoking and intense action-horror film directed and written by Chad Ferrin. Set within the grimy underbelly of downtown Los Angeles, this movie was released in 2016 featuring Robert Miano, Joseph Pilato, and Robert Rhine in major roles.

Parasites opens to the world of Marshall (played by Robert Miano), an affluent university student who finds himself trapped in a nightmarish scenario that is far from his privileged reality. One missed turn on an ordinary evening is all it takes to throw Marshall’s life into a tailspin. The affluent college student's life takes a drastic turn when he ends up in an undisclosed location, where he is terrorized by a group of homeless savages led by a merciless man named Wilco (portrayed by Joseph Pilato).

Wilco, a dominating figure in this homeless underworld, has a set of bizarre rules, norms, and traditions that he wants his followers, and now Marshall, to abide by. With a chilling performance, Pilato injects Wilco with a frightening sense of authority and anarchy, further amplifying the dread.

Over the course of a night, Marshall is subjected to extreme endurance as he is stripped of his dignity, strengths, and fear, only to discover a survival instinct he had never known existed. This cat-and-mouse game takes a grim view of society and survival. Each moment of the film is steeped in tension, rushing towards adrenaline-pounding sequences as Marshall fights for his life while trying to escape this savage group.

In supporting roles, we get to see Robert Rhine, who delivers an engaging performance that perfectly synchronizes with the film’s sinister tone. The performances by the rest of the cast members are also worthy of commendation. Each character adds a unique layer of depth and intensity to the story, helping the film maintain its relentless pace.

Parasites is not your typical horror-action film. Through a captivating storyline and strong character performances, it explores the fine line between social inequality, survival, and the human instinct that can push people to extremes. The film draws an unsettling comparison between the parasites of society and those who come in contact with them, forcing the viewers to ascertain for themselves who the true parasites are.

In addition to its unsettling narrative, Parasites is also impressive on a technical level. Chad Ferrin, along with cinematographer Alex Simon, have crafted a grimy and gritty aesthetic that establishes a feeling of lurid realism. The dark, grim setting of downtown Los Angeles is used brilliantly to set a claustrophobic and eerie backdrop that augments the terror every step of the way. The haunting score by composer Wolfgang Lackner also adds to the film’s pulse-pounding tension, effectively elevating the panic-inducing atmosphere.

Despite its intense subject matter and gruesome scenes, Parasites does an excellent job of balancing the action and horror elements with its underlying social commentary. It offers an unflinching portrayal of society’s forgotten underlings, making this movie a profound exploration of the depths of human depravity and survival.

In its entirety, Parasites is a survival horror movie that tests the boundaries of its genre to underscore the devastatingly real impact of social exclusion, leaving audiences to question their own assumptions about subcultures, societal parasites, and survival. The clever use of irony and social commentary sewn through intense scenes of horror and action make this movie a standout piece that refuses to shy away from confronting defining social issues.

If you're seeking traditional horror fare or the usual action-thriller bravado, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you're intrigued by a raw and unsettling cinematic experience that pushes the borders and plunges into the heart of societal darkness, Parasites is well worth your time.