Viral
During a small-town quarantine, two sisters and a neighbor fight to survive a mysterious parasite that turns family loyalty into a terrifying dilemma.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- foreboding
- frightened
- claustrophobic
- late night horror viewing
- pandemic thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the teen outbreak premise serviceable but considered the film uneven and familiar in its execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Emma, Stacey, and Evan barricade themselves inside the Drakeford home as the infection spreads through their community.
The parasite threatens people Emma and Stacey know, making family closeness and trust dangerous rather than protective.
Teenager Emma must choose between protecting her sister and preserving her own life during the outbreak.
The mysterious disease spreads through the quarantined town before Emma can determine whether the danger has reached her own household.
Films like Viral, and why
It Comes at Night
teen-centered outbreak horror with quarantine pressure and escalating infection
Contracted
young people confronting a contagious threat through intimate, claustrophobic survival horror
The Crazies
family-centered pandemic horror balancing science fiction elements with interpersonal fear
The Girl with All the Gifts
teen ensemble survival story involving infection, isolation, and moral choices
Movie Details
- Directors
- Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
- Release Date
- 2016-02-18
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (597)
Cast
- Sofia Black-D'Elia
- Lio Tipton
- Travis Tope
- mgk
- Michael Kelly
- John Cothran
- Stoney Westmoreland
- Linzie Gray
- Judyann Elder
- Brianne Howey
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Viral about?
- During a small-town quarantine, two sisters and a neighbor fight to survive a mysterious parasite that turns family loyalty into a terrifying dilemma.
- What is Viral like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Viral as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Viral violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Viral as moderate.
- What did critics think of Viral?
- Critics generally found the teen outbreak premise serviceable but considered the film uneven and familiar in its execution.
- Which films are like Viral?
- Films with a similar feel include It Comes at Night, Contracted, The Crazies, and The Girl with All the Gifts.
- How long is Viral?
- Viral runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Viral?
- In United States, Viral streams on Netflix.
