2061: World War III has been fought and lost by everyone ten years ago, and humankind has been bombed back into the pre-digital age. In the war's aftermath a rabies-like disease has broken out, threatening to eradicate all humans, but before you know it, "the Company" has developed a serum that could get those infected under control, so those infected (dugged hybrids) could live together with the healthy ones without any actual threat, Abd still, hybrids are targeted by extremist groups. Then one day, Evo (Malcolm McDowell), head of the Company, announces a new version of the serum that would eradicate the virus for good. Prior to the roll-out, reporter Alice (Kayla Tabish) of the Times is sent to Evo's office to interview the man. He grants her ten minutes and tries his sales talk on her but is evasive enough when she starts asking uncomfortable questions. So she doesn't get much out of the interview but manages to snatch a suspicious looking document from Evo's desk. Once leaving the office she bumps into 16 year old Olivia (Cristin McCleary), who begs her to take her in in exchange for dirt on the company. Thing is, Olivia's also a hybrid, and troublingly low on her serum.

In another corner of town, private eye Avery (Nick Liam Heaney) is hired to find Olivia by gambler Vega (Steven Bauer) - and he's one who doesn't ask too many questions if the money's right. Thing is, he doesn't know where to find Olivia, but when he runs into Alice and shows her Olivia's photo, he notices she knows more than she lets on. So he lets her lead him to Olivia without her knowing. But once he has her, he hears her story that puts a whole new perspective on things, as Olivia's father has worked on the new serum and has been killed because he has known too much, and now the Company is after Olivia, just in cast her dad has told her something. And Evo is actually one of Evo's thugs. Then Alice's article exposing the company hits the newspaper, and suddenly she's in the croosshair of the Company as well. And of course, Vega stops by Avery's place to task him with finding Alice as well ...

A dystopian science fiction movie that rings quite so true because in parts it only describes what's happening now, like keeping people in control by a culture of fear. But that said, Conspiracy of Fear is hardly a thesis movie and doesn't use its premise to depress its audience but applies it as the thoughtful backstory to a rather entertaining yarn that mixes elements of action cinema and film noir into its sci-fi undercurrents to make it a very enjoyable ride, thanks also to a solid cast and a fittingly low-key direction that goes well with the film's worldbuilding.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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