Virus: 32 Review

3 stars of innovative Uruguayan zombie action.

Virus: 32 is a blood soaked horror film from Uruguayan writer and director Gustavo Hernández (You Shall Not Sleep, The Silent House).

It is a Shudder Original film available to stream now on Shudder, with English subtitles.

“Do you know what I used to do when I stayed in the grass waiting for a snake to come? I closed my eyes.”

Iris (Paula Silva – In the Quarry) is a young woman estranged from her husband Javi (Franco Rilla) and living the single life. Working as a security guard at a local (seemingly unused) leisure/sports centre in Montevideo, she has agreed to take on an extra shift. Her plans are somewhat ruined by the arrival of Javi with their daughter Tata (Pilar Garcia) who she had forgotten she was supposed to be looking after.

She heads off to work, late, with Tata in tow and leaves her to play alone while she does her rounds. This is not a problem, as a security guard she can access all of the cameras in the building using her phone. Unbeknownst to the pair however, the world outside is descending into chaos.

A new disease has taken hold of the population, causing the infected to display extreme violence towards anyone healthy. As the hordes begin to appear at the centre, Iris is desperately trying to get back to Tata. Her attempts are thwarted when she meets up with Luis (Daniel Hendler – Norberto’s Deadline, Phase 7), who is with his pregnant and infected wife Mimi (Malena Sanchez – Luciferina).

Will Iris’s observation that the infected take 32 seconds to recover between attacks be enough to save them all?

“Well, today is not a day to be scared of madness.”

Virus 32 is a well written film and enjoyable to watch. The development of the main character Iris from irresponsible mother to genuinely warm and likable really enhances the story, helped by an excellent performance by Paula Silva.

The location is also really good, a massive sprawling semi derelict building (which you do wonder why they need a security guard). There’s plenty of atmosphere and for those who enjoy the gory side of things this will certainly not disappoint. There are some truly disturbing moments.

Nothing really new, but well done, bloody and worth cracking open the popcorn.

“Don’t you know anything? If you see the hands of these guys you’ll see they have red marks, as if they had scars or something.”

Virus: 32 is available to stream now on Shudder.