Film Review: THE RAGE (2017) (Short Film)

THE RAGE *** UK 2017 Dir: Joshua Cleave. 9 mins

Short films are a good way to get your daily horror fix if you don’t have time for a feature length film. THE RAGE is a good example of leaving the audience wanting more.

Bio scientist Joe (Christian Greenway) begins his day like any other, getting into work at the testing lab, flirting with Lucy (Harriet Davies) a female colleague he is keen on and greeting fellow Bio scientist Terry (Noel Ross). Though the day has started well this is the calm before the storm. Terry accidently drops a vial containing a deadly Rage virus causing Terry to become infected. Now Joe and his colleagues must try to get away safely from Terry before he infects those inside the building or worse outside.

Joshua Cleave wrote, Produced and Directed THE RAGE and even stars in it as the janitor, blink and you will miss him, so to say he wore many hats for this production would be an understatement. Considering this was shot in 2017 in a real Bio Lab on a miniscule budget the location really makes you think the budget was higher. Shot entirely on a GoPro through the point of view of Joe (Christian Greenway) as he stumbles around trying to rescue his love interest, it is is reminiscent of a survival horror video game. Those of a certain age will remember playing GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64, the reason I bring this up as there is a alarm in this film that goes off that will bring those nostalgic memories of that game rushing back.

The zombies are of the rage variety (hence the films name) and there is quite a lot of them in such a short film. With so many people becoming infected and trying to escape this adds a realism to the building being a busy place of work.

Of course there are many zombie films out there being feature length or short films so you have to try and find a way to stand out which I believe THE RAGE has done with its compelling story.

THE RAGE has gone on to win over 20 best horror film awards at film festivals around the world and deservedly so for this fact paced short film that will have you salivating to watch the sequel – THE RAGE PART II (2023).

Review by Peter ‘Witchfinder‘ Hopkins