CORA: The Economical Apocalypse

CORA (Blu-ray)

2024 / 100 min

FROM LEOMARK STUDIOS

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Barbarian😺

It’s always interesting to check out apocalyptic disaster movies put together with limited resources. Most are utter crap, of course, but every now and then, you come across one that reflects a genuine effort to create something serious, intelligent and engaging, with a narrative that actually benefits from the lack of a budget. As such, Cora is a pleasant surprise, though definitely a Debbie Downer.

The movie is about the title character (Felicia Rhylander), one of many working in isolation for a company trying to save the world after a mysterious mist has killed most of the population (going outside without a mask is almost instantly fatal). When equipment starts malfunctioning and she eventually loses contact with her superiors, Cora and her computerized drone venture out to contact a colleague at the next outpost. 

But when she arrives, he’s already dead. Having committed suicide, he left a note explaining the company had long since abandoned trying to save humanity and went into hiding. They simply left Cora and the others to die alone in their bunkers. So she decides to find headquarters, but when she arrives, Cora’s captured by a gang of psychos led by Joseph, who not only has a vendetta against the company, he threatens to kill Cora if she doesn’t turn her drone over to him. However, during an escape attempt and violent shootout, she’s rescued by someone who looks exactly like her (I won’t reveal why, though the audience will probably figure it out before Cora does).

When you're forced to use a truck stop restroom.

Considering the budget, Cora is very well made and features an interesting protagonist. She initially seems somewhat vulnerable, but not only is she tough and resilient, Cora as no qualms about killing, even if it means shooting first. The character is made more compelling by a solid performance from its star, who’s on the screen by herself for a great deal of the running time. 

The film is relentlessly bleak, a tone greatly exacerbated by grungy production design, bursts of brutal violence (much of it perpetrated by Cora and her new “friend”) and an overall aesthetic that reminded me a little of the Russian classic, Stalker. While it ain’t exactly a barrel of laughs, Cora is a great example of dark sci-fi on a low budget. And for those who favor story over spectacle, it’s got a hell of an ending.