Strange Nature review: Science-fiction meets real science in perfect blend

James Ojala’s newest flick Strange Nature is billed as a fact-driven ecothriller, but it turns out to be much more than just an informative film.

Strange Nature begins exactly how one would expect an “ecothriller” to start out. A PSA is displayed on the screen and it depicts a scientist examining some animals, but these aren’t your average specimen.

The scientists are examining frogs with concerning deformities. Said frogs have additional limbs, representing a sign of more significant changes in the environment. This particular scene summarizes what the film’s premise is, though it does well not to overshadow the larger story being told.

After the public service announcement on deformed frogs runs its course, the film’s leading protagonist, Kim Sweet (Lisa Sheridan) enters the fold. She’s a single mother, down on her luck, and moving back home with her father in rural Minnesota. Kim’s son, Brody (Jonah Beres) isn’t happy with the move but he has to go along with his mother’s decision. Plus, they have nowhere else to go and Kim’s father is dying of cancer.

Throughout the film, Kim and Brody discover some unusual things around the lake they live nearby. Initially, it’s just frogs with extra legs. But then the mutations begin affecting other animals, including household pets.

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The number of deformities gradually increases, reaching an alarming number. No one does anything until the mutations jump to humans. At that point, the danger of a national emergency becomes apparent.

While the mutations spread at an abnormal rate in Strange Nature, everything else seems possible in today’s world. Chemicals and organic mixtures are becoming more common in farming practices, and there’s no telling how these compounds are interacting with the surrounding environment.

On top of that, no one knows exactly what’s being placed into the pesticides that cover our foods, nor what chemicals livestock are being subjected to as they’re being processed. It’s indeed possible those very chemicals will lead to deformities and mutations like the ones seen in Strange Nature down the line. They obviously wouldn’t be as exaggerated, but the first signs of abnormal mutations spreading across the country could inevitably lead to an epidemic.

Once the real-world threat of mutations is known, Strange Nature picks up the pace in the action department. Infants begin exhibiting radical physical changes, and one mother gives birth to an human-animal hybrid. More and more infants exhibit the tell-tale signs, which causes the town to erupt in a panic.

One townie even accuses a fellow citizen of tainting the water supply, followed by an invasion of the innocent man’s home. The accusations levied on him didn’t carry any weight, but they reflect how people would react in today’s society.

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Despite being rooted in a sci-fi realm, Strange Nature depicts a realistic vision of citizen turning on one another in the scenario of a public health crisis. It may be difficult to accept but people can become quite hostile if they feel their health is being encroached upon by another.

Whether the claims are substantiated or not, just the possibility of someone spreading infection is enough to trigger a panic. As a result, populations are bound to become hostile towards anyone they suspect of carrying a disease or infection.

The good news is that the EPA and CDC are keeping tabs on parties using hazardous chemicals in their productions. These organizations obviously can’t monitor everything, but some protection is better than none. What we can do as everyday people is support these organizations so the dangers presented in Strange Nature never become a reality.

The other great thing about Ojala’s film is he manages to present all these issues in an entertaining fashion. There are bits of humor here and there, and the chemistry between this ensemble cast is phenomenal. At the same time, Ojala keeps the story focused on its two well-rounded protagonists rather than having them overshadowed by a topical message.

For that reason, Strange Nature is one all casual moviegoers should look out for. The film will evidently strike a chord with audiences who support environmental protections, but it’ll also appeal to general audiences as an overall impressive feature.

Strange Nature opens in theaters on September 21, 2018. The film stars Stephen Tobolowsky, Lisa Sheridan, Bruce Bohne, John Hennigan, and Jonah Beres. Written and produced by James Ojala.