Infectious 2026 (Wild Dogs Productions) Review
From the dusty western trails of Bury ‘Em Deep to the icy depths of space in Ultra Red, Infectious finds director Michael Fredianelli and his Wild Dogs crew traveling far back in time to medieval England. Tackling a full-scale period piece is an ambitious feat for a low-budget indie, but it pays off here. A passion project five years in the making, the film finally came together when producer Maralynn Adams tracked down that "damn castle" location—and it sets the stage perfectly.
Just another day of accepting the knights quest.
You have to admire the sheer gusto on display. The castle looks fantastic, and everything from the period wardrobe to the prop weapons carries a surprisingly authentic weight. While Fredianelli trades in his signature modern firearms, his knack for action remains fully intact. The fight scenes are where Infectious truly shines; the tactical shootouts of his past films are effectively reimagined with longbows, backed by sharp, punchy sound design as arrows cut through the air. The swordplay is equally impressive, packed with brutal gore and severed limbs. They even manage to pull off a full horse-mounting joust—an impressive spectacle for an independent production of this scale.
At its core, Infectious is structured as a relentless medieval chase movie. The narrative follows two knights in hot pursuit of Frost, leading them through a series of increasingly bizarre and unpredictable encounters along the way. The pacing keeps things moving briskly from one set piece to the next, with the highlight being a creepy, highly atmospheric sequence in the dark, fog-drenched woods featuring a witch-like figure. The film’s narrative also cuts back to flashbacks, helping to add to the variety of scenes as the audience fills in the plot.
Hunt wishing there were more fast food options along the route, but making due with what’s around.
On the performance front, it’s a treat to see Wild Dogs mainstays like Robert Paine, Bryan Palacios, and Kevin Karrick doing what they do best and delivering their lines in fine, reliable form. Leading the charge, Brad Satterwhite and Sam Kruger hold down the fort admirably as the two central knights. While the stylized dialogue phrasing initially feels a bit like medieval stage theater, the actors commit to it early on; once you settle into the movie's rhythm, it works well and adds to the overall period flavor.
Technically, Fredianelli’s eye behind the lens shines strong throughout. The cinematography makes great use of slick slow-motion beats during the battle sequences, and a standout drone shot late in the film dramatically reveals the impressive scale of the final outpost village. A few night scenes near the fire pits suffer from heavy smoke obscuring the frame a bit, but it hardly detracts from the visual ambition on display.
Is it not a beautiful day?
Infectious proves once again that high ambition and creative resourcefulness can overcome low-budget constraints. By leaning into strong practical craft, sharp action framing, and a committed cast, Michael Fredianelli and Wild Dogs Productions have crafted a thoroughly entertaining, blood-soaked medieval adventure that stands out in their filmography.
