The Human Race is an American science fiction action thriller film[1] directed and written by Paul Hough.[2] It stars Paul McCarthy-Boyington, Eddie McGee and Trista Robinson as a group of people who find themselves forced to race or die. A work-in-progress copy was screened at the 2012 Fantasia Film Festival and the finished copy had its world premiere on April 11, 2013 at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.

The Human Race
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Hough
Written byPaul Hough
Produced byBryan Coyne
Starring
CinematographyMatt Fore
Edited byPaul Hough
Music byMarinho Nobre
Production
company
Paul Hough Entertainment
Release dates
  • April 11, 2013 (2013-04-11) (Brussels)
  • June 21, 2014 (2014-06-21) (United States)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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Eighty people are horrified to wake in a strange institutional setting, with the only common factors between them the knowledge that prior to their abductions they witnessed a sudden flash of white light, and that they were all on a certain block in Los Angeles.

The eighty are a diverse bunch from all walks of life, including young and old, athletic and disabled, a deaf couple, a cripple, a priest, a pregnant woman. Each of the eighty hears her or his own voice in their heads, stating that they are all participants in a race which only one can survive. Rules: all must participate, all must stay on the paths and off the grass, and anyone who is lapped twice will die. Many die almost instantly; others are killed or forced to their deaths by other racers. As the numbers thin, counting off inside their heads, the survivors become more and more desperate to stay alive.

Cast

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  • Paul McCarthy-Boyington as Justin
  • Eddie McGee as Eddie
  • Trista Robinson as Deaf Female
  • T. Arthur Cottam as Deaf Male
  • Brianna Lauren Jackson as Veronica
  • Fred Coury as Yellow Jersey
  • B. Anthony Cohen as The Priest
  • Noel Britton as Stressed Out
  • J. Louis Reid as War Vet
  • Celine Tien as Ting
  • Ian Tien as Shio Lau
  • Richard Gale as Evil Brother
  • Shawne Coyne as Mohawk
  • Luke Y. Thompson as Orange Vest
  • Jonica Patella as Homeless
  • Trip Hope as Jim Phillips (as A.K. Walker)

Reception

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Variety wrote that "Although haphazardly assembled, Paul Hough's low-budget survival thriller is not without intrigue",[3] while the Los Angeles Times called it an "eerie, violent sci-fi survival tale".[4] Twitch Film commented that "while the film never quite transcends the genre in the ways that it could have, it's still an exciting, well-acted and extremely bloody slice of survivalist action with some nice surprises up its sleeve".[5]

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes found that 42% of 12 critical reviews were positive, with an average rating of 2.4/10.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "The Human Race (2012) - Paul Hough". AllMovie.
  2. ^ Whitney, Scott Bain. "Interview: Paul Hough : THE HUMAN RACE". Starburst. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. ^ Harvey, Dennis (15 June 2014). "Film Review: 'The Human Race". Variety. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. ^ Goldstein, Gary (12 June 2014). "Review 'The Human Race' is an eerie, violent sci-fi survival tale". LAT. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  5. ^ Clark, Brian. "Brussels 2013 Review: THE HUMAN RACE Plunges One-Legged Man Into Bizarre Battle Royale". Twitch Film. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  6. ^ "The Human Race (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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