Flu Bird Horror

Group Interest vs. Self Interest

"Flu Birds" aired on TV in 2008 as "Flu Bird Horror. It is a low-budget creature-on-the-loose flick about mutant reptilian birds wreaking havoc on a group of juvenile delinquents lost deep in the forest. The birds spread a hideous disease to the people they bite or scratch. The Feds quarantine the hospital that an afflicted hunter is brought to and decide to airstrike the birds, whether the teens are still in the area or not. Meanwhile a ranger and a doctor desperately search for the kids.

The film combines the delinquents-on-the-run aspect of "The Warriors" with the flying-reptile angle of "Gargoyles" and the skin-eating disease element of "Cabin Fever."

Most reviewers tear the film apart. Are their low-ratings and heavy criticisms legitimate or simply a knee-jerk result of these modern sci-fi TV flicks being such easy targets? While some of their criticisms are valid, I say "Flu Birds" delivers both as a creatures-run-amok flick and as a fascinating human interest tale.

As far as the former goes, the reptilian birds are quite effective, in ways reminiscent of the gargoyles in 1972's excellent TV flick "Gargoyles" (although the DVD cover completely misrepresents the creatures). One reviewer lambasted the scenes where the birds attack a jeep and helicopter as "inept filmmaking," but I thought they were effectively done. The sequences depicting the skin-eating disease are well done as well; actually, the disease is scarier than the birds. Also, there's lots o' gore for those who care.

In addition, the film has a good babes-on-the-run factor with Rebekah Kochan as Lola leading the way. She prances around with denim shorts the entire movie and she's pleasing to the eye. But don't get me wrong, the various women in the film do more than just flee in terror; they lead, they fight, and a couple are doctors.

Also, while there's a decidedly comic-book vibe to the proceedings and a few humorous moments, the filmmakers...