LD 50 Lethal Dose
A rescue mission becomes a death trap in a subterranean lab.
LD 50 Lethal Dose, a 2003 horror film, was directed by Simon De Selva and written by Matthew McGuchan, with production by Alistair MacLean-Clark and Basil Stephens. The story centres on a band of animal rights activists who reunite to free a colleague from a harrowing situation, but their rescue effort spirals into a series of strange and disorienting events. The cast includes Tom Hardy, Katharine Towne, and Melanie Brown.
The activists, calling themselves LD 50, break into an animal research lab, where Gary is caught in a bear trap. The others flee, leaving him to take the blame. A year later, the group has disbanded until an encrypted email from Gary asks for help. Danny, who has visited Gary in prison, tells the group that Gary traded his body for experiments to reduce his sentence. Feeling guilty, the group reassembles to rescue him, picking up two new members: a stoner and an ex-Marine. At the remote lab, they find it abandoned and become trapped in a subterranean level filled with hallways and experiment chambers. A powerful electrical force stalks them, controlling the complex and turning their mission into a deadly trap. They must cooperate to outsmart the unseen evil.
The cast features Katharine Towne as Helen, Melanie Brown as Louise, Tom Hardy as Matt, Ross McCall as Gary, Toby Fisher as Justin, Leo Bill as Danny, Philip Winchester as Vaughn, and Stephen Lord as Spook.
Filming took place in London, England, and the Isle of Man, running from 27 October 2002 to 31 January 2003. It was reportedly the first feature film shot on Kodak VISION2 film.
- director
- Simon De Selva
- writers
- Matthew McGuchan
- producers
- Alistair MacLean-Clark, Basil Stephens
- release_year
- 2003
- genre
- Horror
- starring
- Tom Hardy, Katharine Towne, Melanie Brown
Lore & Background
The plot centers on a group of animal activists called LD 50 who break into an animal research facility. During the break-in, Gary is caught in a bear trap, and the group flees, leaving him to take the blame. A year later, the group has disbanded until an encrypted e-mail from Gary arrives asking for help. Danny, who has been visiting Gary in prison, tells the group that Gary has traded his body for experiments in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Reader's Guide
The film is notable as the first feature film shot on Kodak VISION2 film, according to reports. Filmed on location in London, England and the Isle of Man, production ran from 27 October 2002 to 31 January 2003. The cast includes Tom Hardy, Katharine Towne, and Melanie Brown, among others. The story explores themes of guilt and the consequences of activism, as the rescuers are trapped in a labyrinthine subterranean level stalked by a powerful electrical force.
Did You Know?
- The film was the first feature ever shot on Kodak VISION2 film.
- Filming took place in London, England and the Isle of Man.
- Principal photography ran from 27 October 2002 to 31 January 2003.
- The cast includes Tom Hardy, Katharine Towne, and Melanie Brown.
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