Ms. Ambrosia Downey hired Yoon believing he was a veteran, but his reluctance to fill out her VA paperwork immediately causes viewers to suspect a case of stolen valor. If so, better Yoon work in Wilshire, rather than a real hero. For one thing, his supervisor will be Lester Wooley, a bitter ex-cop, who has some rather mean-spirited hazing up his sleeve. There will also be junkie intruders hoping to find drugs, or possibly something more sinister.
True to found footage conventions, viewers entirely watch the drama unfold either through the extensive security cameras or the security guards’ bodycams. For a long-abandoned institution, their surveillance gear is first-rate. Of course, that is super-helpful for cobbling together a found footage movie.
Frustratingly, the full first half of the movie moves along slow as molasses, because it is dominated by Wooley blowhard bullying, with only the occasional hint of something more evil afoot. Yet, when Pineda starts teasing the Wilshire’s sinister backstory, the film starts to intrigue. Frankly, even though Infirmary clocks in just shy of 90 minutes, it feels like the opening episode of a much bigger story.
Arguably, Infirmary leaves the audience wanting too much more. There is just too great a disparity between the first and second halves. By the time it sets the hook, the die is already cast, so there is not enough time to explore promising material. That said, Infirmary has the weird distinction of not being successful enough to recommend, yet it might still leave viewers hooked for a sequel or prequel. It is probably too late to suggest a new, tighter cut from a different film editor, but that would help tremendously. Frustratingly, as Infirmary currently stands, it just isn’t quite there to recommend. Nevertheless, it starts streaming today (10/2) on Shudder.