A medical researcher believes he has found the vaccine to eradicate a deadly disease but soon begins to realise that his industry isn’t interested in saving lives in Barak Shpiez’s conspiracy thriller Vax.
A year or so after the chaos that was the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that there is renewed interest in medical thrillers. During the height of the lockdown, two of the most popular films people streamed at home were Wolfgang Peterson’s 1992 Hollywood blockbuster Outbreak and the more low-key yet star-studded 2011 Steven Soderbergh drama Contagion. Why we would want to put ourselves through that is arguable but what is certain is there was a morbid fascination with what was going on, and a desperate need for all of us to make sense of the situation we found ourselves in. As well as Outbreak and Contagion there have been plenty of great films in this genre over the years, but only a few have managed to capture the urgency and suspense that Vax, a cracking little conspiracy thriller from Barak Shpiez, succeeds in doing in just 12 minutes.
Opening with a brilliantly created news report reminiscent of the bulletins in Starship Troopers, the film cuts to a science lab where Geoff (played by Cade Carradine) – a medical researcher performing routine lab tests on the disease malaria – comes across an abnormal bio-sample. After conferring with his supervisor, Eric (a powerful Ricco Ross) whose first response is to assume the sample is contaminated, Geoff becomes convinced it is something more. After running more tests, Geoff can confirm the sample contains the key to a malaria vaccine but his excitement is tempered when he realizes his industry doesn’t want to prioritize saving lives because they are more interested in profits. After being told the vaccine will not be developed he becomes determined to do something and along with his wife Rachel (a stoically supportive Marguerite Wheatley), they decide to go public with their discovery. However, the company has other ideas and becomes determined to silence them.
Vax is a powerful and thought-provoking film that raises important questions about the pharmaceutical industry. It is a reminder that the quest for profit can sometimes come at the expense of human life. The film is also a testament to the power of hope and determination, and it shows that even in the face of overwhelming odds, it is never too late to fight for what you believe in. Along with Contagion, Vax also brings to mind Michael Mann’s The Insider and they are both worthy comparisons
Vax is a very well-made and brilliantly acted piece of work, the performances by Carradine, Rico Ross (who played Private Frost in Aliens), and Wheatley are all excellent, bringing each of the characters to life, while also mining the tension of the situations for all they are worth. The film’s cinematography by Caleb Phillips remains visually attractive despite taking place in just three internal locations – a medical laboratory, an office, and Geoff’s home. The laboratory is lit with blue and red lighting emphasising the danger that is contained within it; while the scenes around the kitchen table and Eric’s office use dark, natural lighting. This creates in the audience a sense of claustrophobia and isolation similar to Geoff, as he begins to make decisions that lead to him feeling more trapped and constricted.
Vax is a short film that packs a powerful punch. It makes you think and raises important questions about the priorities of the pharmaceutical industry. A film that will stay with you long after it has finished, Vax is an effective thriller that is definitely worth your time.
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