Virus (1980)

Welcome to the Dead Of Winter.

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Another hidden gem that's been lost in time. This relatively un-know film was the production of a Japanese film company (the name escapes me) and released in the early eighties. It had an all star cast that included George Kennedy, Glenn Ford, Robert Vaughn, Olivia Hussey an Chuck Connors. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku this ingenious film did not nearly get the credit it deserved and to my knowledge is not even available on DVD. I took my old VHS tape and made a DVD burn so I can continue to enjoy it, and not a moment too soon, the Tape has deteriorated badly. The premise of the story in not really original but well done none the less... As the result of a private plane crash, a deadly chemical warfare weapon is unleashed on an unsuspecting world and as a result all hell breaks loose. Soon thereafter, the only humans left alive are the members of international antarctic research teams from various countries who must all work together in order to survive. The story well thought out and well scripted, the set design it excellent especially the shots of Washington a year after the out break, the acting needless to say is fantastic and the ending is appropriate, almost as if leaving room for a sequel that of course never got made. Virus is a difficult film to come by, I suggest checking the video tape (VHS) section at your local Flee market, if you come across it, I highly recommend it.