Pathology DVD Review
Pathology is one of those films that looks intriguing on paper, but on film amounts to a major disappointment. Talented “Heroes” actor Milo Ventimiglia and bewitching Alyssa Milano (“Charmed”, “My Name Is Earl”) helm the cast of attractive young people studying to be doctors during the day and playing doctor at night.
Because Pathology is written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, a team who brought Crank to the big screen (and if you remember Crank, it was a testosterone filled roller coaster ride of adrenaline, not a heavy, thought-provoking film), the film strives to be more deep and thought-provoking than it actually is.
Mortality and morality are the big themes here, and when dealt with properly, the results would be intriguing, but in this case they are more along the lines of preposterous.
Ventimiglia plays Ted Grey, a med school student in love with Gwen Williamson (Milano). When Ted finds out that his fellow students are playing God by randomly yet creatively killing for the sake of killing so that the others can determine cause of death, he has to decide if he will play along.
There is no chemistry between Ventimiglia and Milano, and all of the acting is very sub par. There is lots of sex and drugs, as well as plenty of gore, so I guess those distracted by such things won’t care much that the characters are despicable, the plot is thin and the film is to long for its own good (95 minutes wasted that I can never get back!).
Pathology also stars Michael Weston, Lauren Lee Smith, Johnny Whitworth, Catherine Ivy, Keir O’Donnell, Buddy Lewis and Dan Callahan.
The film is presented in 2.35 : 1 aspect ratio and Dolby Digital sound and subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. Extras include audio commentary by director Marc Scholermann and screenwriters/producers Neveldine and Taylor. There are also two featurettes: “Creating The Perfect Murder”, and “The Cause Of Death: A Conversation With Pathologist Craig Harvey”. There’s also a music video, “Unintended Consequences” by The Legion Of Doom, as well as an extended autopsy scene.
Pathology is rated R, and for good reason. There’s a lot of disturbing and perverse behavior throughout, including violence, gruesome images, strong sexual content, nudity, drug use and language. It’s not for kids, and it’s not even for most adults, as it’s so horrible it’s not worth subjecting yourself to such things with no positive payoff in the end. (It was so bad, by the middle of the film I didn’t care if they all killed each other.)
I give Pathology ½ star out of 5 stars—in other words, don’t bother!