Scott LeBrun "Warning Sign" is a reasonably intense and absorbing thriller made capably if not stylishly by debuting director Hal Barwood, whose credits as a screenwriter include "The Sugarland Express", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Corvette Summer", and "Dragonslayer". It benefits from a compelling cast of adult characters that are all well acted, and a quality look (it was designed by Henry Bumstead and shot by Dean Cundey). The music by Craig Safan is good and full of stingers along the way. The story is familiar but entertaining; there's some suspense, some action, impressive makeup effects, and a sense of humour to go with the expected thrills. Granted, it gets rather corny in the end, but for the most part it's quite enjoyable.Biotek is a company operating in Utah that would seem to be doing agricultural research. But, in tried-and-true movie tradition, it's a front for a sneaky U.S. government that actually uses the place for designing germ warfare. Things go straight to hell when a particularly nasty virus, contrived with the purpose of stimulating the rage centre of the brain, gets loose and spreads throughout the building. Joanie (Kathleen Quinlan), a well meaning security guard, does her best in the situation at hand, while her worried husband Cal (Sam Waterston) works with scientist Dan Fairchild (scene stealing Jeffrey DeMunn) to make up for the bumbling inefficiency of the bureaucrats and officials (led by Yaphet Kotto as Major Connolly) that gather outside.An obvious predecessor to subsequent efforts such as "Outbreak", "28 Days Later", and "Rec", this has some very effective moments. It shows how things make a quick progression from bad to worse. Quinlan and Waterston are appealing in the leads, and the always excellent Kotto and DeMunn are joined by Richard Dysart, G.W Bailey, Jerry Hardin, Rick Rossovich, Scott Paulin, Keith Szarabajka, Jack Thibeau, and Meshach Taylor in the supporting cast. Bailey in particular is noteworthy because, in addition to his comic chops that he showcased as sneering antagonist Harris in the "Police Academy" series, he can do good dramatic work like he does here. Dysart is very amusing as his character Dr. Nielsen becomes more over the top.Very entertaining overall for fans of this kind of thing, this does have protagonists that gain our sympathy and the appropriate amount of twists and turns in its story.Eight out of 10.

rettercritical I don't know if Zombie purists would call it a zombie film but this nice little picture stands the test of time to tonight's DVD viewing. I enjoyed almost all of it but the ending could have been better. The film makes some big comments on genetic engineering and the government/ corporation relationships regarding this. I would google this subject out and you will find some stories just as scary as this film! Some real scares there. I like how the film doesn't make me cringe like many sci-fi/horror films of the period but actually impressed me. A hidden gem. Highly competent film that sustains almost to the end. The film involves some zombie concepts but doesn't follow the formula quite like the other films in that genre. Great cast and the direction is restrained. The film stands the test of time so source it out.

Aaron1375 This movie has a facility that manufactures chemical agents and such in it. Well there is a problem at said facility and there is the movie. Well not quite, seems a deadly virus or something to that effect has been accidentally released. The lady working security and such locks the place down which is what she is supposed to do under the circumstances. Well people inside the place want out insisting they are fine and the family members on the out want in worried about their loved ones. Then the movie takes a twist and those infected become increasingly violent adding to the horror aspect of the film. If this movie had a bit more of the violent killer psychopaths I admit I would have enjoyed it more, still it made for an entertaining thriller. You keep hoping they will find a way to get rid of this infection, that they will be able to keep the relatives from totally going nuts and breaking in, and you hope those trapped inside stay inside because if not the world will become exposed. Interesting movie that would have been more of a film I liked had they moved a little faster to infection starting to really make the people go crazy.

roguewanderer This oldie but goodie focuses on an apparent agriculture development lad in middle America. What the residents don't know is that it actually the front for a bio warfare lab. When one of the weapons is accidentally released the survivors who are uncontaminated have to survive, while the sheriffs wife is trapped inside as the security guard - has to be rescued by sam waterson - with the reluctant help of a former scientist. While this is happening the locals decide that the army keeping them from their loved ones are not working in their interest and so decide to break the quarantine and release not only their loved ones but unbeknowst to them the bio weapon. Will a cure be found before the locals get in? will the survivors trapped within not yet infected get out? who will survive? for a movie made in the 80's it gives a idea of how people react to a biological agent which in its self is a scary thought. Thought the ending is a bit pat it is a realistic depictions of an event that could occur. an excellent treatment of a very real possibility in the past and still current today especially in the light of sars and the bird flu