Happy Independence Day! This Fourth of July, I watched a mockumentary about a summertime pandemic stemming from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Not only is this a fun movie for me, it’s also relevant to where I live! I present for your holiday enjoyment, 2012’s The Bay.
As explained in an introductory screen text, the footage we are about to see was confiscated by US government officials but later leaked to the public. As rookie news reporter Donna covers a local Maryland 4th of July celebration, a pandemic involving mutated water creatures is rapidly killing off the townsfolk. Chicken farm runoff into the Bay is the root cause, and Donna must not only broadcast the carnage and warn others, but escape with her life.
I absolutely love mockumentaries, especially when they’re done well and are convincing. The Bay is just that type of movie. The footage looks right (it’s not too “clean”) and a rookie reporter doing a filler piece but happens upon a giant conspiracy is par for the course for the time this movie came out. I liked the feel of The Bay, and appreciated using a bunch of different styles of footage: news cameras, 911 calls, CCTV footage, home video, etc. Everything added to the authenticity of the movie.
But the real star of the show was the parasite. Basically, toxic runoff from a chicken farm was polluting the Chesapeake Bay and mutating isopods, making them attack humans and “eat them from the inside out.” What’s scary is that these types of isopods are real (though they only affect fish and are not dangerous to humans) as is the Chesapeake suffering from pollution (which is much better now). All of these things help the viewer believe what they’re seeing is real. Sure, some of the CGI of fast-moving pill bug creatures is a little too computer-y, but I can forgive that.
What I also appreciated was that this was a pandemic and government coverup. At every turn, we could guess what would happen — the tension at some points was so high! I like that certain sicknesses don’t automatically turn you into a zombie, but instead are a mix between a plague-like illness and something that would happen to you if you went into the shimmer in Annihilation. The Bay is really good at giving you something believable, while also stretching those same boundaries. Not only that, but once we start seeing the affects of the creatures on people, all Hell breaks loose and it’s nonstop action.
The Fourth of July is a time for barbeques, fireworks, and celebrating our country. What a better way than to cause a small coastal community to be overridden with flesh-eating sea creatures, all because of greed? Sounds pretty American to me! If you’re looking for something besides the same ol’ Independence Day slashers, check out The Bay… and be careful what waters you swim in.
What did you think of The Bay? Let us know in the comments!
The Bay is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Maybe the most interesting thing is this is directed by one of the greatest directors of all time who hails from Maryland – Barry Levinson. He directed movies like Diner, The Natural, Rain Main (he won the Oscar), Sleepers, etc. I don’t think there’s another found footage movie with this sort of cred and it shows because this is one the best!
Whoa, I didn’t know that! That’s a cool tidbit of info. And you’re right, it definitely lends the movie some cred — not that it needed it (because it’s a great movie to begin with).