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Movies & TV Movies & TV Reviews

The Lazarus Effect

THE LAZARUS EFFECT directed by David Gelb, written by Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater, with Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Donald Glover and Sarah Bolger. A D Films release. 83 minutes. Opens Friday (February 27). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NN

Where to watch: iTunes


Researchers discover that Some Things Should Be Left Unresearched in The Lazarus Effect, a mildly diverting riff on Frankenstein and Re-Animator with just a touch of Flatliners.

In a California university, a team led by lovers-partners Dr. Frank (Mark Duplass) and Dr. Zoe (Olivia Wilde) has devised a breakthrough corpse-reviving serum. So when Zoe is electrocuted in a lab accident, Frank decides to bring her back. It’s not the best idea.

David Gelb, who made the documentary Jiro Dreams Of Sushi, livens up some very derivative material with interesting casting – Duplass, Wilde, Donald Glover, Evan Peters and Sarah Bolger make engaging lab rats – and a sleek visual design that makes the most of a limited laboratory setting.

But the script gets less adventurous as it goes along, slowly shedding every intriguing idea and character detail for an utterly conventional final act.

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