The Control Group (film)

The Control Group
The Control Group
Directed by	Peter Hurd
Written by	Peter Hurd; Logan Gion;
Produced by	Peter Hurd; William J. Cox; Jon Leif Julsrud;
Starring	Brad Dourif; Ross Destiche; Jenna Enemy;
Cinematography	Jessica Gallant
Music by	Anthony Bannach; Steve Yeaman;
Production; companies	Point and Shoot Productions; Scatena & Rosner Films;
Distributed by	Wild Eye Releasing; Io Pictures Corporation;
Release dates	October 22, 2014 (Twin Cities Film Festival); February 21, 2017 (DVD);
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Control Group is a 2014 American horror mystery film that first premiered at the Twin Cities Film Fest.^[1] The film is directed by Peter Hurd and showcases an ensemble cast led by Brad Dourif. The cast includes Ross Destiche, Jenna Enemy, Justen Jones, Emily Soto, Shane Phillip, Monique Candelaria, and Jerry G. Angelo. Filmed on location at the Fergus Falls State Hospital.

Plot

Jack (Ross Destiche) wakes up in an old, abandoned mental institution. He is not alone; four other college students are in the same predicament. They soon realize they are part of a secret experiment conducted by the mysterious Dr. Broward (Brad Dourif).

As the group explores the institution, they encounter hallucinations and other side effects of a drug they've been unknowingly given. They split up, searching the large space for the "Blank Slate" files, which they believe hold the key to their predicament. Jack, with the help of the ghostly Anne, finds the files in a cabinet. The files reveal patient records, marked with the word "Wiped."

Meanwhile, Grant is captured by a group of plague doctor-like figures. He is subjected to a procedure that turns him into a zombie-like creature. He later reemerges, showing signs of both his former self and the creature he has become. The group learns from the files that the experiment they are part of is designed to store consciousness instead of wiping it. The last consciousness stored belongs to a dangerous patient known for horrific crimes. They realize that this consciousness is now in the machine they are connected to.

As they face the relentless threats of zombie-like creatures, the hospital's staff, and their own deteriorating sanity, several group members, including Vanessa and Corey, fall victim to the looming dangers. Heather (Monique Candelaria), another group member, is also killed in a gruesome encounter.

In the climax of the film, Jack and Dr. Broward confront each other in the depths of the asylum, housing a large faded vault. Inside lies a mottled skeleton, the remnants of the last patient subjected to the consciousness-storing procedure. They remove the wires from the skeleton, preparing to use the machine. Meanwhile, other survivors fight off agents working for Dr. Broward, sparking rebellion within the institution.

In a shocking turn, Grant, although subjected to the experiment, resists and retaliates against Dr. Broward, further adding to the chaos. The survivors finally manage to escape the hospital, leaving the unconscious Dr. Broward behind.

The fate of Grant, the last seen undergoing the same procedure as Dr. Broward, remains uncertain.

Cast

Brad Dourif as Dr. Broward
Ross Destiche as Jack
Jenna Enemy as Vanessa
Justen Jones as Grant
Emily Soto as Anne
Shane Phillip as Corey
Monique Candelaria as Heather
Jerry G. Angelo as Hanson
Kodi Lane as Jaime
Larry Laverty as Agent Trapper
Meisha Johnson as Nurse Lee
Taso N. Stavrakis as Agent Torrez
Luce Rains as The Patient
Ian Pickett as Ian
Denise Mauer as Mrs. Ramsay
Dustin Severson as self
Jamie Cooper as Crow

Release

The film premiered at the Twin Cities Film Fest on October 22, 2014.^[2]

Reception

John Townsend of Starburst rated the film 4 stars out of 10, calling it "What could have been an enjoyable, if largely formulaic genre film becomes an increasingly frustrating and tiresome experience as it progresses."^[3] Matt Boiselle of Dread Central rated the film 1.5 stars out of 5, writing that "Hurd sets up a nice premise, decent locale, and interesting government cover-up backstory, but it's ultimately dragged to its demise by a collection of bad acting stances."^[4] Mark L. Miller of Ain't It Cool News called it "an ambitious and well intentioned experiment that just isn't so successful at mixing subgenres and telling an engaging tale."^[5]

References

^ Barkan, johnathan (July 2, 2017). "The Control Group DVD Cover Has Been Hiding a Child's Play Easter Egg". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
^ Barton, Steve (October 8, 2014). "The Control Group Releases a Trailer". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
^ Townsend, John (May 12, 2017). "THE CONTROL GROUP". Starburst. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
^ Boiselle, Matt (October 23, 2014). "Control Group, The (2014)". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
^ Miller, Mark L. (May 5, 2017). "THE CONTROL GROUP (2014)". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

External links

[1] Barkan, johnathan (July 2, 2017). "The Control Group DVD Cover Has Been Hiding a Child's Play Easter Egg". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[2] Barton, Steve (October 8, 2014). "The Control Group Releases a Trailer". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[3] Townsend, John (May 12, 2017). "THE CONTROL GROUP". Starburst. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[4] Boiselle, Matt (October 23, 2014). "Control Group, The (2014)". Dread Central. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[5] Miller, Mark L. (May 5, 2017). "THE CONTROL GROUP (2014)". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]