Mulberry Street (2006)

This is terrific horror film that will haunt the viewer for many months. With a superb script, expert direction, and a memorable cast, it's one of the best motion pictures in the genre in the last decade. In particular, it is an exciting young talent named Kim Blair who stands out and gives a performance one will never forget. As the beautiful woman who has the scars of her life on her soul as well as her face, she proves herself to be an actor to watch for in the future. Her fantastic eyes speak volumes as she fearfully battles personal demons as well as the horror that has invaded the streets of her city. Every scene in which she appears is electric and she is supported by some very capable actors and a director who obviously recognizes that the camera loves Blair. For her incredible portrayal and delicate characterization alone, this is a film that should not be missed by those interested in witnessing an Oscar caliber performance by a soon-to-be star. Powerful work indeed, with Kim Blair utilizing her understated beauty and astonishing talent as if she were a cinema veteran.

Diseased rats infected with some type of virus are attacking people in New York City causing the residents to transform into ravenous rat-like zombies. In one particular apartment complex on Mulberry Street the residents take up a defensive posture hoping to survive long enough for help to arrive. "Clutch" (Nick Damici) is a former boxer who essentially tries to lead in this endeavor. His daughter, "Casey" (Kim Blair) is a wounded combat veteran of Iraq who has just gotten out of the hospital and is trying to make her way to him through the streets of New York. "Kay" (Bo Corre) is a waitress at a nearby bar who lives up the stairs and is attracted to Clutch. Likewise, there were other characters with similar life stories which the director (Jim Mickle) did a pretty good job of setting up as well. So much so that I was a little disappointed with the ending. But since I don't want to spoil the film by saying which characters live and which ones do not, I won't go any further. What I will say though is that this movie has some very fast action which made it a bit difficult to fully absorb at some points. Additionally, zombie purists may not consider this film to be a "zombie" movie in that it follows more along the lines of "28 Days Later" than the standard zombie formula. But even so, I thought this was a pretty good movie all the same and I recommend it for those who enjoy a film of this type.

In Manhattan, in a dilapidated building on Mulberry Street, the super Ross (Tim House) has trouble to repair the decayed systems to improve the lives of the tenants. The former boxer Clutch (Nick Damici) is a leader in the building and is anxiously waiting for the return of his beloved daughter Casey (Kim Blair) from a hospital for veterans after serving overseas. He prepares a surprising homecoming party for Casey with his gay neighbor Coco (Ron Brice). Clutch feels an attraction for her neighbor, the single mother and waitress Kay (Bo Corre), and her teenager son Otto (Javier Picayo) respects him like a father. Clutch is also close to Frank (Larry Medish), who is very sick, and his friend Charlie (Larry Fleischman). Meanwhile there is a rat attack in a subway station, followed by two others in different stations, and forcing the Major to showdown the public transport system. Sooner the victims bitten by rats turn into flesh eater mutants, attacking the other human beings and there is an outbreak that puts Manhattan in quarantine. The inhabitants have to fight to survive the attack of the ratlike creatures and Clutch gives his best effort trying to protect Casey and his friends."Mulberry Street" is an effective low-budget horror movie that really works. The characters are human, realistic and very well developed, creating an empathy with the viewer; the plot is simple but explains the origin of the outbreak; and the attack of the horde of mutants is gruesome and claustrophobic, recalling 1968 "Night of the Living Dead" and "REC". There is no final redemption in the non-commercial end, and for me it is another plus in this good film. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Infecção em Nova York" ("Infection in New York")

Life in the Big Apple is "as usual" on a day like any other day, when out of the sewers emerges a massive viral contagion...rats are aggressively attacking people who, in turn, become infected and undergo a grotesque metamorphosis. They become, quite literally, rodent-people, and as such scuttle in shadows, gnaw through walls, and greedily consume human flesh. Holed-up in a low-income apartment building are a variety of characters(all of them better written and portrayed than usual for a film of meager origins). They fight for their lives as radio and TV broadcasts denote the epic scale of this grim and rapidly mounting situation.MULBERRY STREET is a great example of the way younger film industry hopefuls are taking old ideas and throwing them back at you as something entirely original...in truth, we've seen all this before, but the presentation is so different that it rarely feels like the same old 'sturm und drang'. It's surprisingly character-driven for a contemporary horror film, and the ending which seems rather unresolved actually makes sense as this is the story of the film's primary characters facing a situation, rather than being about the situation itself. Imaginative, creepy, and in a few spots even emotionally affecting, this is one which is likely to please horror hounds and might even recruit a few(it's also one of the most "New York" movies to pop up in quite awhile). I enjoyed this film, and I suspect it will be a springboard for many of the talented members of the cast and crew...I, for one, will be eager to see what they can do with some legitimate financial resources.7.5/10