2017, what a year for cinema, Shape of Water won best picture, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won a ton as well, and Jordan Peele won best original screenplay for Get Out and all was right in the world for once. However, another movie that went unrecognized and under the radar seems to have predicted the future? Mayhem brings together the incredible forces of Samara Weaving and Steven Yeun for a virus crazy massacre movie that packs the punches, brings the blood, and has a story that delivers the goods.
The movie focuses on Derek played by Steven Yeun as he’s stuck in a job he absolutely loathes, a job he knows will never give him the respect he deserves, but he pushes through. A deadly virus that lets people to snap and release their darkest desires by murdering and committing debauchery in public, etc, breaks out in the office building, and everyone is quarantined for 8 hours before they can get assessed. Melanie, played by Samara Weaving, is there fighting the foreclosure on her house. When Derek and Melanie team up to ensure their own survival and fighting for their respective wishes, they become a relatively unstoppable force that is now allowing anyone to stand in their way.
What makes Mayhem so entertaining is all the blood, guts, gore, and action. Seeing Samara Weaving weld, a nail gun and wreak havoc on everyone is absolutely delightful. Steven Yeun just slaughtering everyone who gets in his way, taking no crap, and just packing the punches as hard as he can is truly entertaining. There is so much action packed into this tight 86 minutes that there is so much entertainment and insanity tightly packed into this feature it is an absolute blast to watch.
Samara Weaving and Steven Yeun share some incredible chemistry that truly shines throughout Mayhem. In all of the chaos, madness, and mayhem (no pun intended) their chemistry shines throughout the film. Between their chemistry, the fun of the movie, and the overall action this makes a great addition for a lighter night of blood and guts. It might not be a slasher, but it certainly will rib you the right way.
