NIGHT OF THE INSOLENT VERMIN ** USA 2023 Dir: Gary DeJidas. 92 mins
In the midst of a massive hurricane, a group of friends and a kind Dominican stranger band together to face the terrifying roach armies unleashed by the raging weather. As the storm rages on, the group must find a way to outsmart and survive the aggressive roach hordes. The friends and their new companion must work together to combat the unexpected threat posed by the once-harmless roaches turned deadly by the hurricane’s fury.
The concept of this film captivated me right from the beginning. Upon watching the trailer, I was immediately drawn in. The film’s beginning effectively establishes the tone as a horror comedy, introducing our characters, delving into their intriguing personalities, while also establishing the impending hurricane that adds an exciting twist to the plot.
At the outset, we are also introduced to the roaches. As the hurricane approaches, the distinction between the regular roaches and the ones that have been transformed by the storm becomes increasingly noticeable. This film effectively portrays the gravity of the troublesome roach army despite the lack of explicit violence, which alone is quite impressive.
There are certain points in this film where the absence of necessary subtitles makes you question if you are potentially losing out on key details. However, the acting in this film certainly captured the general vibe of the horror comedy genre effectively. While the acting may not be the best, it certainly is not the worst either. In saying this, each role contributed significantly to the dynamic nature of the film.
I enjoyed the camera work, and the music composition fitted the genre perfectly. Ultimately though the film did not hit the mark on a few occasions, leaving me wanting more visual action and gore instead of the subtle hints that were prominent throughout. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that this film had immense potential and I felt it was worth a watch. I rate this film 2 out of 5!
Review by Andrew Schisas (aka Cujo the Conqueror)
NIGHT OF THE INSOLENT VERMIN is out now on Blu-ray (Region FREE) in the USA and to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and USA and other Streaming Platforms worldwide from VIPCO and BayView Entertainment.