Britain (England) seems to be the latest realm for unleashing zombie terrors second only to United States, with another entry into genre, called Zombie Resurrection, from director Jake Hawkins, who has a short segment in the film Grindsploitation, called Zombeez, however Jake, also took the hats as writer, actor and cinematographer, assisted by Andy Phelps. This film is beyond the micro-budgeting standpoints commonly found in independent filmmaking especially in the horror genre, with a soon-to-be future world of our making filled by zombie hordes craving and devouring the human race without prejudice. This film achieved distribution in 2015, through the horror powerhouse Midnight Releasing, on all platforms of release, granting the director, some flexing power for his next venture, aided with Charmed Apocalypse Productions.

The story starts about fifteen months after the horrors of an apocalypse, with a true mismatch band of survivors, seeking a location for safety, rest, and easy to handle, though, strangely enough the location chosen, an abandoned school, but in a zombie world, beggars can’t be choosers. The group’s struggles from both the zombies and hostile environment within their own manipulating of carnal needs, wants and selfish instincts deemed unworthy, especially in the current dire situations. The entourage has a military harden vet, Mac (Jim Sweeney Idol of Evil (2009)) and Major Gibson suffering spineless disease in charge of escorting a prisoner to be executed, who is held responsible for creating the zombie plague, strange reasoning, if the world has this plague, the sickness to still carry a execution by proper authorities feels very misplaced.  The rest fill out in a golf-obsessed father (Danny Brown) who carried his favorite club and uses it to knock heads off of the day, the best usage of a club since Flight of the Living Dead (2007) accompanied by his daughter supposedly 16-years-old, though the looks transcend that age. One must not overlook the bible thumping pregnant Esther (Shamiso Mushambi), a textbook smart student named Ghadhi (Simon Burbage) and cunning self-indulging Harden (Jade Colucci) among others. The prisoner, named Sykes proves himself as a survivor, a thinker, and more knowledge in multiple issues, from stopping the disease bites, by removal of limbs. Eric Colvin, who’s done several horror films, show he has a handle on the character and the type of production that follows in the movie, he makes his character grow on the audience, and has us pulling for him to win out against the hordes of undead. Their travels seem endless in the woods, with excessive talking and over the top cursing to give the appearance of a quirky edginess.

An original concept on paper, transforms into a screenplay adapts for the screen, but something is lost in translation for the zombie genre to enjoy, with the endless source material for the zombie apocalypse then adding religious overtones, seems wonderful, but doesn’t materializes properly; as there is a Messiah like zombie, a priest that cures the dead, reversing their plight and yet makes them into meals for the zombies, turning them back into the dead and repeating the cycle but what end? Does it refer to mankind’s destination to repeat one’s sins for all eternity? Sadly the deep thinking never finds equal footing and becomes an endless and pointless exercise, for the cast and sadly the viewers.

The makeup and sfx really shine for this production, no scrimping here, for the audience to salivate over, the blood ages properly and covers the cast, the walls, and floors, adding to a slippery good time, and watch for an excellent spine removal, a refreshing scene to have it this film. The zombies usually provide the sickest and most twisted devouring of their victims, with ghastly delights and splattering fun gags all for the enjoyment of the gore hounds.

As each new week generates another wave of the undead, and the acting sometimes strives to survive a production, this time, each character fits very well into the film, and the actors hit their marks. The direction moves the movie into the right path, perhaps with some divine help from the zombie Messiah, and he might have succeeded as Hawken’s movie resurrects itself, from a dormant status onto Midnight Releasing distribution.

This review was originally published on the now defunct Rogue Cinema website in 2015.

TAGLINE:

• Prey for salvation

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267454/

IMDb Rating: 2.7/10

Baron’s Rating: 2.5/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxcNQ3HzBd8