Director Tiffany McLean, using production company Freight Train Films, puts forth a true homegrown video charm, harkening back to early moments of fresh horror, complete with comedy and most of it all intentional with a winning combination of gore and insanity spreading outward in a zombie flick from Brain Damage Films. While the concept of zombie and comedy is far from new, this movie truly embraces the family horror film, and in a curious way, and while jokes find themselves crude and crass, the laughter rises exceptionally well because it all surrounds fun than horror or dread of the undead.
It all starts with Mack (Bill Steven McLean (Back to the Beyond [2011])) and his son Jesse (Ben McLean) and their bonding experience as survivalists, preparing for the impending doom brought on by the socialist demeanor of society, an experiment in civilized manners and confusion running amok. However, it goes way off course with great fun, as Jesse is uninterested in the lessons from his father, from the survival skills to handling firearms, everything to revert to true mannerisms of being a man. Noting the modern military fatigues as opposed to black uniforms or even more styled camouflage clothing liken to hunters and using military tactics to teach lessons that become standard practice in the movie. Soon enough, with chaos breaking loose and the zombie horde appearing, those skills come in handy, and their camping trip gets overrun by the uninvited, they retreat for obvious safety reasons. Now one must overlook the countless technical issues in the movie to enjoy the storyline, they never take it seriously, and yet that works fantastically well for the entire production. Mack, experienced in world aspects of survival and normal course of activates keeps a good head on his shoulders with his brains intact, while his son reverts to wanting to find himself a girl, as does Ashley (Hannah Elaine Perry) though her position at first seeks no one’s help. Jesse acts as immature as possible through most scenes, while Mack takes the no nonsense approach, which conveys into the second act, with them happening up a research facility, where survivors hold up in the most unorthodox manner. Enter into the rhyming of words for “door” and quick to generate humor more directed at the teenage market, the intended audience for the film, and yet still parts attract dedicated horror fans. Many of the punchlines far from correct yet help out others in the film, never taking their roles too seriously as they’re far too dramatic and strive for the DeNiro or Pacino performances, knowing and owning their abilities and Tiffany’s direction makes the movie work with the constant arguing and even though nothing going as planned. One the key elements of the films is the facility and the zombies marching towards it, and for some reason they are drawn to it, similar to Dawn of the Dead [1978] and [2004], they suggest connections, those of consumerism and herein the birth of destruction.
One of the best elements comes from avoidance of two common traits in many horror comedies, such as the references to one-liners from other horror movies, and best, no flatulence, or explosive diarrhea, as was sadly the case in The Green Inferno [2013]. In addition, the comedy starts in the facility with hunger pains and ends with the endless weapons in the office place, giving anyone ample time to plan the battle again zombies at the workplace, though the strange and sometimes inane decision process presents ridiculously fun ways to kill a zombie – hence the title. The character Norman, what a name, played by Donald Libby really gives the role all he has and provides a convincing portrayal for everyone to enjoy. The entire office sequence grows with b-movie stylization, that has waves of creative solutions to repel the dead and encourage the audience to stay with the movie, and why not as zombies consume every aspect of society, from shooting the breeze at the water cooler to zombie proof cars and homes businesses.
The entire movie does have the poor acting, Swiss cheese dialogue and the mismatching acting, but that is also the fun of it, accepting that friends and in this case, family made the film come to the screen, one glances over the flaws and enjoy it for what the film is, not a dull flick. As for the makeup special effects, this movie shows the best it can for the budget and the time, and yes sometimes it goes silly, yet chemistry falls fine, making it overall fun production that expounds on the film.
This movie truly shows the independent filmmaker and her family the McLean’s striving for all glory that a family can get from with a minuscule budget and never shying away for the lack of production values and delivering positively on sound and lighting, keys in the film’s success. The impact of bloodied freaks, fiends and bubble-wrapped zombies shows what one can do if the passion exists for making their movie reach past the boundaries of its too-hard and achieve greatness with bizarre enjoyment.
TAGLINE:
- Mack and Jesse save the world… or at least some of Maine.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3694988/
IMDb Rating: 4.2/10
Baron’s Rating: 4.0/10