'Mayhem (2017)' a bit like 'Office Space (1999)' crossed with '28 Days Later... (2002)', seeing a virus that strips away all your inhibitions (which, in practice, just means it makes you want to fight and... well, you know) make its way inside a shady law firm, which sends the place into complete chaos as the CDC lock it down to perform contamination control. When it gets going, it's almost like a video-game; our heroes start in the basement and must make their way up the building to confront the big boss, aiming to obtain certain key cards along the way so that they can make use of the executive elevator. It's a mixture of dark comedy and all-out action, using its pseudo-horror concept as a catalyst for all its eponymous mayhem. It's a bit difficult to divorce the lead characters from their motives because, even though they have both been treated poorly and are infected with the virus, their revenge equates to nothing other than straight-up murder. Unlike in most movies that deal with a similar topic, this behaviour isn't criticised in any way and, without spoiling anything, it doesn't exactly lead to their downfall, which makes for a slightly uncomfortable watch. Basically, the feature clearly isn't interested in its own ethics. In fact, it even goes out of its way to provide a 'get out of jail free' card for its characters, as it's stated that nobody is legally responsible for their actions while under the effects of the virus - even though, much like alcohol, it only makes them do what they otherwise wanted to (hence, murder is still murder). If you get onboard with the picture's own mentality, it is possible to have a bit of brainless fun with it, though. After a rather rough, narration-heavy opening, the affair picks up the pace and is generally enjoyable. Its action is brutal and relatively exciting, with a sense of escalation that ultimately leads to a satisfying conclusion. The actors all do a decent job with the material (although the villain has a hard time keeping his American accent) and the filmmaking is on-point throughout. In the end, this is typically an entertaining action flick. It isn't distinct or, even, well-executed enough to stand out from its peers (and its morals are, shall we say, a bit iffy), but it's a solid effort that successfully straddles a couple of genres. 6/10.
