The Mutation (2021)

 

After a human-sized rat monster breaks loose from the country home of its creator Dr Peter Rowe, killing Rowe in the process, zoologists Julie Smith (Daryl Hannah lookalike Abi Casson Thompson) and Allen Marsh (Neil Oliver lookalike Richardo Freitas) are called in by the cops to track down ratty, assisted by the doctor's widow Linda Rowe (Amanda-Jade Tyler).

The Mutation, shot as 'Rats Reborn' diverts from the usual Scott Jeffrey production in a couple of respects. For one its centred around Marsh, a male character (Jeffrey, like Pete Walker before him, usually gravitates towards female leads) and is fairly metropolitan in its locations (Covid filming regulations having sent Jeffrey into the great outdoors for the last few movies). It also emphasizes the 'transatlantic' aspect of the production heavier than usual, with hard boiled dialogue and American accents all round, with the exception of Megan Purvis who gets landed with an Oirish accent for this one. Saying that, The Mutation doesn't totally conceal its UK origins, leaving in details like British car number plates and an on the spot news report captioned 'Breaking News- Mutated Rat seen in English Countryside'. The plot is the stuff of pulp horror novels with lines to match ("if you screw this up, I'll feed your balls to the animals you study in the goddamned zoo" and "hell, we have no evidence of anything right now, except some half assed theory about a potential serial, giant rat, killer"). If truth be told there's a little too much of the burgeoning romance between the recently separated Marsh and the recently widowed Rowe, but by Jeffrey standards The Mutation is a high energy affair, with ratman kill scenes generously popping up, as well as a full on massacre in a crowded restaurant. In another atypical touch, Jeffrey really goes for the gore here, with ratty being fond of pulling off limbs and cannibalising his victims. The Mutation gives the impression of having a bigger budget than Jeffrey usually gets to play with, the extra monies seemingly going in the direction of practical gore effects and a decent fight choreographer. Whenever the rat creature shows up, The Mutation takes on the appearance of a Scott Adkins movie, with the rat proving to be quite the accomplished martial artist and even potential victims managing to get punches and high kicks in there too...who knew Megan Purvis was such an ass kicker? While there are a few dull stretches and flat performances, overall The Mutation is a blood splattered step in the right direction for Jeffrey, and the kind of film you wish Charles Band was still making in the 21st century.