Growth | 2010
Growth
Growth is a 2010 American horror film written and directed by Gabriel Cowan.
In 1989, on Cuttyhunk Island, scientist Mason Lane used microscopic parasites to advance human evolution. The experiment resulted in stronger, smarter, and healthier humans, but something went wrong, and three-quarters of the island's residents died.
Twenty years later, teenagers Jamie, Kristen, Marco, and Justin take a boat trip to Cuttyhunk Island. Jamie, whose father led the original project that created the parasites, begins experiencing flashbacks about the project and its impact on her family. She is visited by Larkin, another scientist from the project, who informs her that she will be losing money from her inheritance of the island. Meanwhile, Kristen and Justin, who are outside chopping wood, flirt with each other. Kristen tells Justin that if he treads water and sees a bird, he’ll get "whatever you want." As Justin walks toward the river, a mysterious figure on the other side of the river sends one of the parasites after him, infecting him. Kristen runs back to Jamie and Marco to tell them something is wrong with Justin. The trio return to Justin, who is convulsing, and take him back to his room. Justin makes a full recovery, with his senses drastically heightened.
The next day, Justin goes to a local bar and gets into a fight. His enhanced abilities allow him to easily win. He kisses his opponent’s girlfriend, but suddenly begins choking and tearing into her neck. He wakes up the next morning unsure whether it was a dream or not.
Kristen finds a large cemetery with numerous graves dated 1989 and is attacked by the mysterious figure, who forces a parasite into her mouth.
Marco and Jamie meet Larkin and another scientist, Dr. Macavire, who request to see Justin. When Jamie and Marco try to warn Justin, Jamie is kidnapped by the mysterious figure and taken to his house. Justin finds Kristen's mutilated body as militia men approach him. Justin kills the militia men, but Marco is killed in the crossfire. A policeman notices a parasite crawling up Dr. Macavire's leg and shoots him.
The mysterious figure is revealed to be Mason Lane, Jamie's father, who explains that he developed an antidote formula. Jamie escapes with the antidote, trying to combat him and alert Larkin. She douses Mason with salt water, killing him and releasing the parasites within him. Jamie and Larkin escape the laboratory as the parasites swarm after them. Larkin reveals that Dr. Macavire had been trying to lure Jamie with the suggestion of inheriting the island, assuming that Jamie had brought the antidote.
Larkin tells Jamie to get one of the boats to escape, but Justin appears to stop them. Justin kills Larkin and begs Jamie not to leave him behind. Jamie escapes without him but soon discovers she is infected as well. She jumps into the sea to destroy the parasites.
An epilogue set six months later in South Korea suggests that the parasites are still active.
The film was released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment on September 7, 2010.
Reception was mixed. Bloody Disgusting rated it 2.5/5 stars, comparing it unfavorably to Shivers, Splinter, Slither, and Night of the Creeps. Paul Pritchard of DVD Verdict called it "a flawed but entertaining low-budget movie," and while better than most direct-to-video horror films, it pales in comparison to Shivers. Annie Riordan of Brutal as Hell called it "an incoherent film full of stereotypical and clichéd characters." Justin Felix of DVD Talk rated it 3/5 stars, writing, "Growth has some issues with pacing – and believability, though given the genre that’s almost a given – in its script. However, a strong cast (including an especially good performance by Nora Kirkpatrick in a main supporting role) and plentiful CG parasite mayhem make the film worthwhile for the horror crowd."
