The zombie genre continues to shuffle its way through horror and the fear of terrorism and mass viral outbreak drives short film American Virus by filmmaker Shane Ryan.

A group of terrorists plan on releasing a viral zombie outbreak on the populace but come undone as expectations in the group differ.

Things start off solidly enough. Working with an obviously low budget, the filmmakers take to the streets of L.A. for some guerrilla filmmaking, two of the cast running for their lives. It’s filmed with an urgency and opening shots of siren-blaring police cars conjure up a very real feeling of worry. Things start to fall apart from there. The plot concerns a group of activists/terrorists who say they’re unleashing the virus on America but we don’t see this really happen, just a test on a homeless man and the group getting their comeuppance. The film has some solid effects and some suitably bloody and fleshy gore effects but it lacks a narrative drive or anything to make it stand out or show it’s different. As the group falls apart, it loses credibility, with characters failing to act in the face of impending death and disaster like they’re actually in danger.

This being such a short film, with only five minutes to work with and kept to strict confines, it needs the characters to shine to make it a compelling watch but they never come alive on screen and their diabolical plan is hastily sketched in crayon rather than crafted with paint. Their relationships to each other seem to flip at the drop of a hat and you never feel anything towards them because no personality is ever built up.

American Virus works better as a calling card, with some effectively shot moments and nicely done effects but it struggles to find its footing when it comes to the core components of narrative or character.

AMERICAN VIRUS (SHORT FILM) / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR: SHANE RYAN / SCREENPLAY: KATHRYN EASTWOOD, SHANE RYAN / STARRING: ADRIAN BAEZ, KATHRYN EASTWOOD, CHAD MEISENHEIMER / RELEASE DATE: TBC