Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'The Colony'

Written by Scott Edwards

When winter approaches, it is interesting to watch what people stock up on. Some people only go shopping for food as it appears that the snowpocalypse is coming and everyone else is crazy for not being prepared. Others go shopping for new cold weather clothes as they are not satisfied with what they already had hanging in their closets. Then there are the people that go out and buy another form of entertainment, such as a new video game or a movie that they will watch as the cold weather moves through. In no way, shape or form are any of these wrong to do, as I am guilty of doing all three, since you never know what the next winter will bring.

As the human race has battled the elements for all of their lives, they have decided to try and make the planet just a little bit more hospitable. Creating machines that could control the weather in the face of an impending ice age, they believed that they could correct Mother Nature’s mistake. When the machines were turned on however, it brought forth the ice age that much quicker and now the earth’s population has been forced into bunkers for the rest of their days.

Colony 7 is being run by former solider Briggs who has his finger on the pulse of everything that is going on. Being stuck in such a confined area, protocols have been developed in the colony to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone inside. As sickness can spread though the colony very quickly with no way of escaping it, anyone that shows any signs of not being well is put into quarantine immediately to avoid another outbreak that has taken the bunker's population from four hundred to less than twenty survivors. Although everything seems to be going well, Mason, Briggs’ right hand man is taking matters into his own hands and not giving anyone in the bunker a choice after they have been diagnosed with any sickness and is ending their days with a shot to the head.

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As Briggs is made aware of the situation, he tries to tone Mason down a bit, but a S.O.S. comes from their neighboring Colony, #5, that he needs to answer. Since they are on friendly terms with the other colony, Briggs stages a rescue party to see what is happening as there is no radio communication, but in his absence, Briggs  does not want to lose his home and appoints someone else in charge of the bunker as he will be gone for a couple days. Mason does not take kindly to this and starts trying to protect his home as well from the possible outbreak that could end his, and others lives.

Making their way to Colony 5, Briggs is accompanied by outdoor veteran Sam and rookie Graydon. As they make the dangerous trek, they find an abandoned vehicle that reminds them of the dangers the outside world truly possesses. Arriving at their neighboring bunker, the group finds blood at the entrance, but continue in to find out what has happened. Only finding one survivor inside, the group hears screams coming from the lower levels and choose to investigate a little bit more. Finding a group of cannibals chopping up the remaining residents of the bunker, the group tries to make an unnoticeable exit, but are spotted after a sound is made. Rushing back to the snow, they notice that their tracks are more than visible for anyone wanting to follow them and need to find a way to keep the blood thirsty carnivores from finding their home.

Another post-apocalyptic movie that deals with humans trying to avoid an ice age, but just wind up making it worse. Is Hollywood trying to tell us something, or is it a genuine fear that with our little bit of weather technology in place, something like this is likely to happen? Either way, it is a very strong story with great characters that although you may not fall in love with them, you feel their fear of what is happening in the outside world, along with their worry as to what will happen if they are attacked. I especially liked the power struggle at the top of the ranks in the bunker, as each man believes they are doing the right thing to protect the survivors, and in a way, they are both right. Happy Viewing.

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