Pathogen was a film I watched when it came out and recently watched again. It’s an interesting directorial debut from Emily Hagins, who was 12 at the time. If you have the chance to see it, I highly recommend!
An infection which appears to be caused by a bacteria in the water turns out to be more. A fourteen-year-old student, Dannie, feels the real cause is linked to her recurring dreams. When the infection reaches an epidemic level. it becomes clear that this infection not only kills, but restores the body to a minimally functioning state where the infected become the “living-dead”. This unique twist on the classic zombie theme, centers around the highly-intuitive Dannie Jacobs and a group of four other middle school students who try to save their friends, their town and themselves in spite of the odds against them. While they are desperately trying to find an answer before it’s too late, they meet researcher Sue who may hold the key to the infection and Dannie’s dreams.
My Rating: B
Interesting Facts: Written, directed, and edited by 12-year-old Emily Hagins (she had previously created a number of short films); At a small grocery store in Austin, Texas, closed early one night so that Emily Hagins could film a scene involving 30 zombies of all ages inside and outside of the store; and Emily Hagins received a grant from the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund for the post-production work on Pathogen (2006), and so did a documentary production company making a documentary called “Zombie Girl”, about the making of Pathogen (2006) and Emily.
Days with the Undead 