Synopsis

The Bay details a horrific parasite outbreak in Claridge, Maryland, during a Fourth of July festival, where mutated by chicken farm waste dumped into the Chesapeake Bay, the isopods infect and consume the townspeople from the inside out.

Got it. Here’s a more natural, personal blog-style version, with a looser voice and less “review checklist” wording.

The Bay Good Points

• The best thing about The Bay is that it will get under your skin simply because the idea feels way too possible – no big monster here, just something small that gets our mind racing.
  
  
• I actually liked the way the movie uses all the different footage, as it uses phone videos, news reports, and random recordings which really helps sell the idea that you’re watching pieces of something that people were trying to hide.
  
  
• The effects are good as well, and the movie isn’t afraid to make the injuries look horrible, where some of the scenes are genuinely hard to watch.
  
  
• It takes its time showing you that something is wrong, and by the time things really start going bad, you’re already waiting for the worst to happen.
  
  
• The film also has something to say, and the pollution angle could have easily been handled in a really boring way, but it fits naturally into the story, which is basically a reminder that people doing stupid things and ignoring problems usually comes back to bite them.
  
  
• The atmosphere is FANTASTIC, and completely carries the film, with a constant feeling that something bad is coming.
  

The Bay Bad Points

• Some of the documentary-style sections don’t work as well as others, with some scenes feeling like they’re just there to explain things we already figured out.
  
  
• The characters aren’t exactly the reason to watch this either, and while there are some decent performances, I wouldn’t say I finished the movie thinking about any particular character.
  
  
• The footage style works overall as said, but it can still become a little much sometomes, and there are moments where the constant switching between cameras, recordings, and clips makes it feel a bit disconnected.
  
  
• The actual creatures are probably the weakest part visually, as while the effects showing what happens to people are great, but the parasites themselves look a little rough in some scenes, but luckily, the movie doesn’t spend too much time showing them off.
  
  
• The pacing is hit or miss – when the movie is working, it’s really effective, but there are sections that slow everything down and take away some of the tension.

Final Thoughts on The Bay

The Bay is a nasty little horror movie that does a lot with a simple idea, and when it gets going, it creates some genuinely uncomfortable moments.

The Bay on IMDB
The Bay Trailer
Watch and stream The Bay