Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs.
It’s telling that the film doesn’t have anywhere near the impact, effectiveness or nuance that Steven Soderbergh’s glossy, similarly themed Contagion had, suggesting that, even though multiple-sourced footage remains a potentially interesting way to shoot a movie, using this particular framing device really has become redundant.
Opting for unknown actors (a must) and sparing use of special effects, it’s realistic, well executed and will satisfy those looking for a competent found-footage horror. Even if, truth be told, it’s hard to escape the feeling that we’ve seen this sort of thing many times before. The Bay, it seems, has come ten years too late.
While it's a good deal classier than most straight-to-DVD shaky-cam shockers and certainly worth a watch, The Bay is ultimately too much of a late-comer to the party to make much of a lasting impression.
Gruesome but oddly riveting.
It’s cleverly put together, the threat nicely revealed via various footage and is never over exaggerated to such an extent that it loses touch with reality.
Standard stuff, though Kether Donohue as the TV reporter reviewing the havoc is good value.
Acute observation of human behaviour is accompanied by sharp writing and an affecting performance from newcomer Kether Donohue as a novice reporter out to penetrate the cover-up.
Tedious, unscary eco-disaster movie.
The tension is well enough sustained, the horrors build steadily, the eco message is familiar.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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