Pathogen (film)

Fourteen-year-old Dannie has recurring nightmares and later finds out that a waterborne disease caused by bacteria begins to spread, but believes that the disease is somehow linked to her recurring dreams. As the disease becomes an epidemic, it's revealed that the disease not only kills those it infects but also turns them into zombies. Dannie and some of her middle school peers: Sam, Christine, Stacey, and Cameron try to find the solution to the disease while having to fight zombies along the way. Stacy is turned into a zombie during a fight at Dannie's house and after fleeing the house the group comes across a woman named Sue, who worked for the company that accidentally created the infection by trying to create a cure for cancer. Sue and a begrudging Cameron go to a convivence store to get supplies while the rest wait. After waiting 2 hours, the group goes to find them. At the store they find a dead Cameron and missing Sue. An argument among the group leads to the revelation that Christine is a traitor and that Sam has carried the infection all along. Sam kills Christine so that she can't hurt anyone and Dannie is forced to kill and decapitate Sam. Dannie Leaves the Store and is attacked by a swarm of zombies.

• Tiger Darrow as Christine
• Rose Kent-McGlew as Dannie
• Alec Herskowitz as Sam
• Tony Vespe as Cameron
• Alex Schroeder as Stacy
• Rebecca Elliott as Researcher Sue
• Estrella Gonzales as Jen
• C. Robert Cargill as Janitor
• Joy M. Furman as Dannie's Mom
• Ben Gonzalez as News Reporter
• Amanda Haight as Chloe
• Jim Hurley as Health Department Official
• Dannie Helen Loraine Knowles as School Nurse
• Harry Jay Knowles as Voice Actor
• Melissa Martinez as Pharmaceutical Rep
• Natalie Nooner as Ashley
• Jay Giovanni Ramirez as Davey, Zombie Kid
• Jose Ramirez as Doctor
• Sebastian Rosas as Zombie
• Ernest Rosas Roze as Math Teacher / Zombie

Hagins completed the film's script in 2004, despite adults around her trying to get her to shorten it to be more realistic for a 12 year old to film, she insisted it be feature length. She cast characters from her friends and classmates and held auditions for some of the uncast parts in her basement with the help of Rebecca Eliot (who played sue in the film.) Filming took place in Austin, Texas after school and on weekends using various locations such as a school and hospital lobby. Filming eventually had to pause because of Emilys homework. After the pause, Haggis got permission from a local convenience store to film the final scene. She excitedly counted down to the Release date, referring to it as "Zombie day." However, most of the footage got taped over but Haggis successfully reshot the scenes needed. In 2005, after filming ended, she received a grant from the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund for post-production work, which she used to partially replace equipment necessary for post-production work that had been stolen during the shooting.^[1] A documentary entitled Zombie Girl: The Movie followed Hagin's filmmaking process. Zombie Girl: The Movie Recived a brief theatrical release in Emily's hometown, letting more and more know about the film.^[2][3]

Pathogen Premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema along with a Q&A by Haggis on March 25th 2006.^[4]

The Film was Released on Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome in 2022.^[5]