WFG RATING: A

Savant Artists presents a Russem Productions/Alien Donut Films/One More Picture Show production in association with Bad Bob Productions. Directed by Russ Emanuel. Produced by Mark Brenes, Russ Emanuel, Angela Joseph, and Charles Mesa. Written, lensed, and edited by Emile Haris. 

Stars Olivia D’Abo, Kelli Maroney, Laurene Landon, Eileen Dietz, Tracee Cocco, Shawn C. Phillips, Sean Kenney, Bailey Sorrel, Gilles Stricher, Catherine LaSalle, Lilly Irving, Maggie Wagner, Rudy Ledbetter, and Kyosuke Mukai. 

An ensemble cast stars in this social commentary horror-comedy about a pandemic that results in a virus possibly capable of starting a zombie apocalypse. 

When a pandemic has hit the world due to a deadly virus called the Zin Virus, people are forced to stay at home. A few weeks have passed by and a young woman, Cathay, finally connects with her boyfriend Matt, who is stuck elsewhere. Cathay informs Matt that she has been infected with the virus and she is forced into being the guinea pig in an experiment for a cure. The scientists are led by Edward Bellows, who has just had a TV interview and had gotten grilled by reporter Grace Baxter.

Meanwhile, roommates Britt and Marnie are finding their own ways to deal with the pandemic. And they couldn’t be more different. Britt is the more studious one while Marnie is the outgoing party type. However, out of respect for Britt, when Marnie gets invited to a party, she turns it down as she doesn’t want to risk getting infected. Meanwhile, a television crew goes to random neighborhoods to get their take on what’s going on as Edward looks to hopefully find a way to end the pandemic once and for all. 

This is quite a hilarious look at how people are affected by a pandemic and adds a horror element in terms of this certain virus turning the infected into mindless zombies. Russ Emanuel meshes elements of thematic films like Unfriended, mockumentary style comedies, and even informercials to bring together social commentary on the pandemic. 

What helps as well is the ensemble cast that drives the film. The primary focus is on three particular subjects. One is Sean Kenney’s Edward Bellows, who gets a grilling from Olivia D’Abo’s no-nonsense report on national television, and attempts to find a cure by going Herbert West on a test subject, young Cathy, played by Bailey Sorrel. Meanwhile, we have Britt and Marnie, played respectively by Catherine LaSalle and Lilly Irving, two roommates who have to deal with each other and their families in the midst of the pandemic. 

Some other notable standouts is the iconic Kelli Maroney as a mom who thanks to a new law, has her infected relatives wading in the backyard much to the chagrin of an outspoken neighbor; The Exorcist’s Eileen Dietz as a Goth-looking infomercial star named Griselda E. Necromancer; Mahal Empire regulars Rudy Ledbetter and Kyosuke Mukai in supporting roles; as well as Shawn C. Phillips as a gamer/conspiracy theorist who video calls with his friends about their take on the virus and pandemic. 

All in all, Staycation is pretty funny while at the same time, offering social commentary on a pandemic. The ensemble cast elevates the film to the point of hijinks at times, but it works!