Synopsis:

A plague is spreading through the city of New York. Adults are immune to the disease however, Gotham's children are bearing the deadly brunt of this pathogen. In researching the disease, scientists learn that it's being spread by a host whose numbers range in the millions. Roaches it seems are the culprit much like the Rats with the bubonic plague. The likelihood of killing every disease-ridden roach in a city as large as New York however, is impossibility from every point of view. Improvisation is the key. Since mankind cannot stomp the problem into oblivion, science must take center stage. The adage, "If you can't beat em' join em'" becomes a very real solution to the problem at hand. A scientist combines the DNA of the most "ruthless" bugs into a supremely deceptive killer insect known only as "the Judas bug". Without any kind of clinical trials, they release this bizarre hybrid into the sewer system & within just a few days, the entire roach population is dead. Success!, with the roaches dead, the disease is easily abated & a cure is found. Another adage makes its presence known in that "what you don't know can kill you". With the roaches gone, no one thought to check on the Judas bug. Did it die? Its DNA strand was encoded with a three-day life span but that was never tested. The Judas bug killed its prey by mimicking them. Secreting a chemical to mask it's own scent while, "morphing" if you will into the creature it's stalking. As with all things, evolution brings change & the Judas bug has taken the next step in its evolution. It has evolved to take on & destroy its newest food item…mankind! It becomes a race against time as we realize that the Judas bug has more than quadrupled its size! It's no longer the size of an insect, it's now equal in size & in some instances larger than the average human being! Among other things, this is a great "big bug" movie that's filled with the kinds of chills & spills that go to making a great Sci-Fi film. Charles S. Dutton & Mira Sorvino are great and the bugs ain't half bad either!

Audio

The audio portion of the disc is a very active 5.1 Dolby Digital platform that creates an intense aural experience. The surrounds & sub are active throughout the whole of the film & the center is crisp & clean. The dialogue is easily heard & understood without fighting for supremacy with the score/effects as some other titles have been produced. Overall, the audio is very nicely presented & adds to the overall feeling of "ickiness" this kind of film produces.

Video:

The video is presented in a widescreen non-anamorphic transfer that's pretty well done. There were just a few flecks around the edges of the print & in the darkest shots just a moment or two of pixelation. But, other than that, the image is perfect.

Extras:

This is a Dimension Films production that could have included a wealth of supplemental materials regarding the making of the Judas bugs in every stage of their development, interviews with the cast & crew, behind the scenes vignettes. You name it, they could have done it. What they did do was not much. A trailer, actually a rather poorly produced trailer is included on the disc & that is the limit of the discs' special features. When I say poorly produced I'm referring to the elements of the trailer as opposed to the quality of the production. The trailer is really hokey but, not in a good way. It quotes scripture in an attempt to fill you with a sense of dread that was foretold by the prophets…had nothin' at all to do with the film. Then, they run together a mishmash of scenes from the film & it all comes out looking not so great. I'm a fan of Charles S. Dutton & Mira Sorvino, so, I was going to see the flick in any event. However, others might not be so inclined if they see the trailer first.

Overall:

I am a real fan of the atomic age of Sci-Fi from the 50's & this played right into my niche'. There is a fair degree if terror involved in the film & it works on every level. The acting is all first rate & thoroughly enjoyable. I don't remember if it got all the critical acclaim it should have in it's initial theatrical run but, hopefully, it will develop some interest as it's on DVD. All in all, it's a really enjoyable ride with a whole lot of unexpected twists & turns! Great movie!