Dead Air, 2009

 

 

A shock-jock radio DJ and his team taking questions about what makes people paranoid are blissfully unaware that terrorists have planted chemical weapons in various public sporting arenas across the country. The effect of these weapons is not surprisingly turning people into violent, mindless assailants. Once the on-air crew discover what is going on, they decide to remain at the station and report on the disaster, mostly through watching the news on TV, and phone-in callers, (very much like the Canadian ‘Pontypool’ from the previous year.)

Dead Air reunites 1990’s Night Of The Living Dead Bill Mosely and Patricia Tallman, but their characters seem a bit more subdued here than the sibling act in that remake, (which is awesome, BTW. Go check that out if you haven’t!). Still interesting, and engaging, but just lacking the same level of energy.

The ‘dead,’ in Dead Air are technically ‘infected,’ but seem to react more like zombies than your 28 Days Later/Crazies infected. These guys apparently have no thinking at all, and little coordination. And very clumsy. I mean, escaping a zombie while trapped together in a stuck elevator SHOULD be difficult, right? 

And unlike true zombies, they have less of a hunger for the living, and more of a general distaste, and attack with ‘swatting’-like blows, as well as punches and bites. This is most likely because in Dead Air, transmission of the illness is carried out with scratches as well as with bites.

 

And the infected are few. The biggest horde seen is one of the few outside of the studio shots and may have numbered into the dozens. Their undead make-up was just red, bleeding eyes to differentiate the living from the diseased.

In short, not much of a story arc and a tissue-thin plot combine with more than a few predictable moments as well. And then there is the whole Muslim terrorist angle…

It may read like I am slagging on the flick, and to some degree, I am, but this was obviously a shoe-string budget, (which must’ve seen the lion’s share going to secure Mosely and Tallman!) And it has that feel to it, too. The sounds, the tight settings, the music. So, that should all be taken into consideration.

Also, it should be told, it didn’t suck. I enjoyed it as an honest entry into the Z-genre. The Zombie Movie Rubric, however, is a far more objective rating tool. According to its cold, unblinking stare, ‘Dead Air’ earned itself a 2.0 out of 4 possible stars. This should earn it a “yeah, okay,” recommendation, or as a viable scratching to a Z-flick itch some dark night alone. Just don’t expect a masterpiece.

For the trailer to DEAD AIR to decide for yourself, see it here: DEAD AIR. 

 

The Horde, (2009)

    Imagine if Die Hard took place during a zombie apocalypse instead of Christmas. There ya go. Lemme 'splain.

    The murder of a French police officer incites the revenge of his fellow cops against the gang responsible. Things go wrong. And then, things go VERY f'in' wrong! A surprisingly abrupt and widespread outbreak envelops Paris turning the dead into ravenous, animal-type zombies. The surviving cops and the surviving criminals must form an uneasy truce to stay alive.

    This film is not, (read that with some emphasis,) NOT played with any tongue-in-cheek, quirky cuteness or remotely lighthearted "zom-comedy." This is a straight-up, action/horror film. The Horde delivers on suspense, action, a metric shitload of zombie gore, and some good, spot-on scares. The fact that the characters are developed, identifiable, and engaging is complimented by the decent acting of the cast.

    The zombies are of the "Runner' type: All a-growly and angry, but in this tight and claustrophobic environment, it works well. 

    This is definitely for those zombie movie fans who like the 'action' element of Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days Later, or even World War Z. Okay, sure. It IS in French, (but trust me, read the damned subtitles. Voice over-dubbing only screws the pooch on these things!) but the action pushes the character development as much as the dialog, so it is not that much of an intrusion to the story. 

    The Zombie Movie Rubric gave it a respectable 3.0 which translates to watchable and even re-watchable!

    Don't avoid it because of the 'foreign-ness!' It is worth the French! See for yourself with this trailer found on YouTube: THE HORDE 

Dead Snow, (2009)

    The premise: A group of young medical students decide to spend their Easter break at the remote cabin of one of theirs. After a day of fun in the snow, a creepy local turns up and tells them of the tragic history of the place and its occupation by the Nazis during WW2, how the townsfolk rose up and slew them in their sleep, killing all but the evil Colonel Herzog, (tip of the hat,) and a few of his men. These escaped into the mountains with all the gold they could carry - never heard from again and presumed dead.

    After their initial encounter with these ‘presumed dead,’ the group wisely decides to flee the area. As they make their way back through the remote countryside, the ever-dwindling group of plucky twenty-somethings find themselves hunted down by the undead platoon. And, armed with a chainsaw, sledge hammer, sickle, and snowmobile, the med students decide to fight back. 

    And, yes. There ARE snowmobile kills!

    The stark beauty of the Norwegian wilderness plays a major role in conveying a sense of isolation and desperation, and makes this film seem like a country-wide haunted house movie!

    These are NOT your standard zombies, either! The ‘Rules of Romero’ do not apply here. Aside from being the reanimated deceased, similarities with your garden-variety walking dead are few. These guys, run, think, take orders from their commander and have a very specific goal: the retrieval of their stolen gold.

    However, it is this original premise, along with a consistency in their purpose that allows these zombies to score some decent points! Combined with likable characters, good acting, nice special effects, and great pacing, Dead Snow scores a whopping 3.5, (out of 4!) on my Z - Rubric. Definitely worth a viewing for a kick-butt, high speed, action/adventure horror romp in the Norwegian woods.

Enjoy a free trailer preview, won’t you? DEAD SNOW

Zombieland, (2009)

   Probably among the best of the "Zom-Coms," (possibly second only to Shaun of the Dead,) Zombieland is, at its core,  a big-budget road movie! And since a successful road movie depends on likable characters, we get Columbus, Tallahassee, Little Rock and Wichita, played by Jesse Eisenberg,Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone, (who, surprisingly, have all returned for the recently released sequel!)

   Each of the characters' personalities is pretty clearly defined without having to be over-the-top. (Don'cha hate how many characters in zombie movies are always yelling? I mean, like, Always!?!) Zombieland's four survivors also show great chemistry and are fun to watch. The horror aspect, although tongue-in-cheek, is enough to glue the story together, but not so much as to repel those with er, more sensitive tolerances.

   The first person narration introduces Columbus, the unlikely hero, and his survival 'rules' This intermittent monologue  points out the differences and similarities between himself and the others and also provides insight and motivation for the four to give those characters a bit more 'depth.' It is a very well-done vehicle and fortunately, kept to a minimum. Clouding the whole story with first-person perspective would, probably, have sucked. This doesn't. In fact, held up to the cold, unflinching logic of the ZMR, Zombieland scored a 3.75 out of 4.0! Zoinks!

Original movie trailer here: ZOMBIELAND

An original series was being developed for Amazon, but got scrapped because of fan feedback regarding the actors being NOT the stars from the movie, but playing the same characters. I actually thought it looked decent, but see for yourself here: ZOMBIELAND: THE SERIES

With the new glut of zombie TV shows, (Walking Dead, Z Nation, iZombie, In The Flesh, et cetera,) a zom-com TV program like this probably would've worked, and definitely would have seen more and more parody opportunities over time! Oh well. 

Zombieland also gets the Very Best Big-Star-Cameo Award for any zombie movie ever made.

Bled White, (2009)

     Another low-budget affair but interesting. Really cool atmosphere: Cold, stark and bright. Surprisingly interesting characters with individual story lines that intersect and influence the outcomes of each others helped keep me engaged. 

Gotta destroy the brain to prevent it. You know this!

     Okay, true, the zombies do run and growl, but aside from that, the other traditional Rules Of Romero apply: They are the dead, they eat the living, zombism is contagious through bites, and they can only be stopped by destroying the brain.

     No outbreak explanation is given, and almost no population to be seen, whether by design or simply budget limitations. But the effect works well with the barren sense of desperation. Very stark, insipid, and bleak.

Damned things can run in the snow pretty well!!!

Overall, I gotta admit, I enjoyed this. And it held up its own on the ZMR by scoring a solid 3 out of 4 points. Amazing for such a small budget feature.  

Here is the official trailer: Bled White

Should your curiosity be piqued enough, the full movie is also available on YouTube... for free! Bled White

Yeah. It's won awards, so...

Zone of the Dead, (2009)

AKA "Apocalypse of the Dead

     Ken Foree, (from Dawn Of The Dead!) is once again a cop-amidst-a-zombie-plague, as well as Associate Producer of Zone of the Dead..., (which also went by "Apocalypse of the Dead" here in the states.) 

     Toxic waste is the culprit here, as Interpol agents attempt to transfer a (very knowledgeable) prisoner from Serbia when the outbreak occurs. Aside from the police and prisoner, a few Serbian reporters and an errant professor join up for undead fodder and an abandoned police station becomes their stronghold.

      Dawn of the Dead, Aliens, and Assault on Precinct 13 comparisons abound, but so do some decent zombie effects. Plus, Zone provides an interesting twist in an attempt to answer the age-old question, "Why are some zombies fast and some slow?" Both speeds are plentiful here, and the film's pace is of the quick variety!

      Mr. Foree gets to give us a  whole new "When hell is full, the dead will walk the earth" type of story, and that isn't the only nod to the genre's past. A reference to "securing a mall" and an "Agent Savini" among others, make for fun Easter Eggs.

      Some elements could've been edited out without the movie suffering much, but their inclusion doesn't do enough damage for me to hold a grudge.

       I found this to be a very watchable, enjoyable, action-style zombie flick in the Dawn of the Dead vein. The Zombie Movie Rubric scored it a 2.75, out of 4.0, so read into that what you may! 

       I see that many have slagged this film off on IMDb as awful. Me? I liked it and found it a LOT better than many other offerings in the zombie movie field, (and trust me, I have seen quite a few.) 

There is a good trailer on YouTube to help whet your appetite: Zone of the Dead

A misleading DVD case cover!