The Lazarus Effect: An illogical scarefest
Everybody (well, almost) knows (or should) that the title of this horror flick references the raising from the dead of Lazarus by Jesus in a village outside Jerusalem. It was his last miracle before he was condemned to death in a patently unlawful trial.
But few know that the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha also raised the dead. And since they had a hotline to God, the question of tampering with nature did not arise. Rather, they were vehicles of God's power. Revolving around the afterlife and the spirit world, this film explores the negative aspects of doctors playing God. The story kickstarts when a group of medical researchers accidentally lose team member Zoe (Olivia Wilde) in a secret (and illegal) experiment. Illegal because the University axes the project after the pharma company funding it decides to claim all of their research.
A practising Catholic, Dr Zoe is electrocuted on account of the tiny cross pendant she wears round her neck. Hollywood revisionism shows monsters disdainful and mocking of Christianity and clearly, this movie is also saying just that: that Zoe's Christian faith could not save her.
Zoe's fiance Jake (Mark Duplass) decides to extend to his dead fiancée, the experiment which was pretty much successful in resuscitating dogs and pigs videotaped by journalism student Eva (Sarah Bolger) with horrific results. The dead woman, returns with Godlike powers (omniscience, might, special kinetic powers). But not God's benevolent nature.
Zoe's colleagues Clay (Evan Peters) and Niko (Donald Glover) tend to take a kinder view and wonder if she's trapped in some kind of half-way house in the afterlife. But Zoe herself believes she is in Hell, literally a burning house, memories of which haunted her when she was alive and figuratively, or rather, spiritually, a separation from God.Can the latterday Frankensteins survive the monster they’ve inadvertently created? No prizes for guessing.
The Lazarus Effect is suspenseful and scary for three quarters of the film. Unfortunately screenwriters Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater craft a nihilistic ending (hinting at a sequel?) while also leaving some loose threads hanging. For example, the dog disappears. Dawson and Slater also seem to be either confused or cynical or both. Why? Zoe recites the Hail Mary in her zombie state. But if she had read her Bible thoroughly (she wears a cross, an outward sign of faith) she would have been assured that it is not our actions that determine whether we will be saved, but grace, repentance and faith in Jesus.