Mysophobia is the fear of dirt or contamination from contact with common objects. Nosophobia is the intense fear of contracting a specific disease. These days, the media tends to play-up any viral outbreak occurring in the world; we watch and read with fascination and fear, wondering if the next Ebola or Bird Flu will become the global pandemic. With so much information (and misinformation) available with the click of a mouse, life in the 21st Century must be hell for anyone suffering from either of these phobias. Steven Soderberghs Contagion is structurally similar to the all-star disaster movies of the 1970s. But unlike catastrophes which could have been avoided if not for a single self-centered dumbass, Contagion presents a scenario which spirals wildly out of control within an alarmingly short period of time, eventually threatening hundreds of millions who contract this deadly disease simply by going about their daily routines. Worst of all, no one person is entirely at fault. With no Charlton Heston or Steve McQueen around to save the day, we are made to feel helpless, soberly reminded that a global pandemic would be nearly impossible to overcome. If youre one of those who annually turn into Chicken Little during flu season, Contagion will confirm your absolute worst fears, convincing you to stock-up and lock-up your home whenever you notice any of the neighborhood kids sneezing.
D.M. Anderson works and lives in Portland Oregon. He is the author of two young adult novels (Killer Cows & Shaken) and a collection of dark tales (With the Wicked). He has also published several short stories which have appeared (or will appear) in various anthologies and magazines such as 69 Flavors of Paranoia, Night Terrors, Trembles, Encounters, Implosion, Strange Fucking Stories, Perpetual Motion Machine. He documents his adventures in the dark on on his movie site, Free Kittens Movie Guide
