Doomsday

NEW YORK (CNS) -- According to the blood-soaked futuristic adventure tale "Doomsday" (Universal), all the inhabitants of pandemic-ravaged Scotland in the year 2035 will be either cannibalistic punk rockers or medieval-style castle dwellers. Who'd have guessed?

This diverse population is discovered by tough policewoman Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra). At the suggestion of her high-ranking colleague Bill Nelson (Bob Hoskins), she's been ordered by the British prime minister (Alexander Siddig) and his scheming security chief (David O'Hara) to lead a team of soldiers north to bring back an immune survivor who might help stem a fresh outbreak.

Once past the high-tech version of Hadrian's Wall that now separates the two kingdoms -- Scotland is entirely quarantined -- the task force does battle, successively, with Sol (Craig Conway), the crazed tribal leader of the punks and Kane (Malcom McDowell), the ruler of the medieval wannabes. The ironically named Eden somehow manages to be taken prisoner by both, but that's just to set up the chase scenes.

Writer-director Neil Marshall's thoroughly benighted film wallows in barbarism.

The film contains graphic violence, mutilation, torture, cannibalism theme, brief upper female and sustained rear nudity, pervasive swearing, including at least 45 uses of the f-word, four uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops