Zombies!
Zombies! Zombies! Thousands of them.
Like it or lump it, those undead monsters are everywhere in Marc Forster’s adaptation of Max Brook’s
2006 novel of the same name.
For
all those involved, this is a very different Apocalypse Now.
Plot
details and/or spoilers will be spread throughout the world.
Those
partial to pandemic participation include:
Brad
Pitt – Gerry
Daniella
Kertesz – Segen
Mireille
Enos – Karin
Fana
Mokoena – Thierry
Pierfrancesco
Favino – W.H.O. Doctor
Meet
the family of changing Lanes which consist of ex-UN employee Gerry, wife Karin
and their children, Constance and Rachel.
While
sandwiched in a traffic jam, shortly after the radio report of a worldwide
rabies outbreak, stationary frustration is a mere inconvenience as events spill
over into a mixture of mass panic and mayhem.
Amongst
the unnatural scurry of civilians, Gerry unnervingly witnesses attacks more
excessive than romantic nibbles and 12 seconds later, the recipient looks a bit
worse for wear.
After
a smashing time with windscreens, it is decided that these crazies should be
given a wide berth and Gerry escapes with his family via a mobile home.
Reaching
a minimum safe distance, Gerry contacts his pal Thierry and is advised to go
the roof of an apartment block to await an air support rescue.
Before
that, it’s unopposed Supermarket Sweep, without the annoyance of Dale Winton. We also see devastation on a global scale.
They
knock a family up and despite the unofficial offer of ‘come with us; join with
us’ by The Feeling, they’re less keen than a celibate prostitute with a horny
backlog of punters.
Scarpering
to the roof, unwanted attention is brought by those having a bad day. Nevertheless, they make it and a sight more
welcome than the glow of sunshine arrives and the Lanes are taken to a ship on
the Atlantic Ocean.
Did
you know that the Time Bandits abandoned plank in the same ocean after enjoying
the luxuries of the Titantic?
Well,
they did.
So,
Thierry and scientist types chew the theory gristle with Gerry. Spanish flu’ and ‘zombies’ are thrown into
the explanation pot so we think ‘uh oh’.
When
the family is threatened with eviction, Gerry reluctantly accepts terms and
agrees to travel with Seals to discover the origin of the virus in the hope to
develop a vaccine.
He
does intermittently keep in contact with the trouble and strife with a dog and
bone.
Enter
the first port of call in South Korea.
Gerry
learns titbits of what experienced zombie campaigners already know.
Sound
attracts and they are drawn to the source like consumers to a liquidation sale. Body shots cause slow down like a not too
active SNES game, head shots seem to do the trick and as a belt and braces job,
look to incineration.
An
imprisoned CIA geezer enjoying a stint in the clink because of selling arms to
the North, points Gerry in the thoughtful direction of a geezer residing in
Israel.
Zombie
attacks result in the death of some but naturally, our man makes it Jerusalem and
continues his pursuit.
After
inevitable discussion with the people’s leader, the best action sequence begins
and ends with a crash, bang and missing a whimper.
This
is where the trailer selling zombie escalator comes into focus, public
transport topples and a helicopter is brought down to uncomfortable earth.
Segen
the soldier is along for a ride bumpier than some and is bitten on the bunch of
fives. Gerry reacts quickly by sharply
removing the affected area which should instantly prevent the spread of
infection.
Before
boarding an alternative means of transport, Gerry notices that these gut
munchers avoid particular normality.
He
tends to his wounded escort but this temporary relaxation is rudely interrupted
by a solitary zombie outbreak on a plane.
As
infection filters through the crew like office gossip, explosive action is favoured
over hesitation via the unpinning of Segen’s grenade.
Strap
yourself in as emergency; part of the plane is missing...
Crash
landed and wounded, Gerry struggles with Segen towards the W.H.O. Research
Facility in Cardiff, which their route was diverted via an earlier transmission
with Thierry.
I
buy that but how they sniffed out the location is pure Hollywood.
Researchers
are apparently good at inventing their own theories but listening to Gerry’s brings
a novelty as he believes that the infected sense the sick and ignore the
terminally ill, like he saw in Israel.
He
suggests that injecting a pathogen virus will not be a cure, but camouflage.
After
all, in order for a virus to thrive, it needs a healthy host but you don’t need
to be a scientist to spout that fountain...
Although
sceptical, they give his spiel a chance and direct him to where the samples are
stored. He and friends will have to
overcome a dormant and dead problem to access hopeful assumption.
Scientists
are separated as humans are just the stimulus that zombies need but unperturbed,
Gerry locates the vault.
A
member of the reanimated deceased selfishly appears and blocks safe exit. An intravenous injection of faith later
brings a simple decision of ‘get busy escaping, or get busy freezing’.
Gratefully
accepting the invitation of unforced entry, our zombie investigates but
confusion reigns and Gerry leaves unharmed.
With
a grin wider than a Cheshire pussy cat, he cracks open fizz and purposely creates
a racket as we watch the charge of undead ignore his casual saunter back to the
other survivors.
Gerry
is reunited with his family at a safe zone and the pseudo vaccine adapted from
pathogen is sent to most corners of the globe.
Despite this time buying, zombies are still rife but as Mr Lane
narrates, the war is not won or over, it’s just the beginning.
I
was left satisfied but far from overwhelmed with this latest entry into dangerous decay.
Forester
prefers an outbreak of veins over missing limbs and general grostesque for
his army of sprinters which also contributes towards this been some way off an
18 but mercifully, a country mile away from a 12A, so I praise that necessary
edits where negated.
Although
George A. Romero’s original Dawn of the Dead remains the ultimate example, how
things have move on since 1978 as the genre is no longer stereotyped by
blood-drenched goregasms.
These
are the not really new breed of flesh fanatics who impressively crash, smash and display a total disregard for their own safety. They also don't give a shit about height and are certainly
in a hurry for the next bite of a tasty cherry.
The
end zombie’s facial mannerisms are a cross between Hannibal Lecter and more so, Clive
Barker’s Chattering Cenobite in Hellraiser.
Switching
to video games, Dead Rising boasted hundreds and due to its ‘coincidental’
setting, famously insisted ‘this game was not developed, approved or licensed
by the owners or creators of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead’.
Left
4 Dead is undeniably the epitome of 28 Days Later as zombies simply zoom
towards those in control.
Danny
Boyle injected pace into the silver screen in 2002 and holy shit, the twitching
and seizures that Boyle’s rage famously displayed are practically identical.
Some may forget that Danny Boyle's angry mob are not zombies...
Some may forget that Danny Boyle's angry mob are not zombies...
Even
in the apartment block, 28 Days Later rings true.
Despite
these obvious and unsubtle undertones, this is a rip rollicking ride filled
with quality action, fantastic scenery and most of all, survival gets going
almost immediately without getting caught up with protracted vanity that
moves slower than a steamroller in cement.
Going
the extra mile with adult symphony may have made this exemplary and for those
who crave visceral gore should chomp into the efforts of yesteryear.
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