Dedicated filmmaker Steve Best poured two years along with his loyal crew and cast to create not just another zombie flick, but also one with secret and hidden cues set in Nottingham (Nottinghamshire, England) and covered with flesh eating creatures and dozens of vicious children with new teething problems. In addition to him working and creating the film, and like all independent filmmakers he wore many hats, but relied on Pedram Karimfazli as co-creator of the story, and moral support to finish the movie.
The film wastes no time and starts the outbreak quickly giving the audience no time to react, or even understand what is occurring, and if sounds rushed and panicked, then the director succeeded on his intentions. This relies on the understanding of human mindset by throwing one into the action quickly similar to Dawn of the Dead [2004], it leaves the audience little time to resist and question anything, especially in a low-budget production like this movie. Everyone who knows and understands horror films, realizes the larger the cast the more likely fewer will last to the end, only a few horror movies break from this tradition, namely Return to Horror High [1987]. The fast pace shows a quick introduction to the characters: Candi (Jade Blocksidge) and good friend Kelly and (Alexandra Lyon) along with interesting quirky connection between elder statesman Bill (Harry Keeling) who later needs a wheelchair and his companion a young girl (early teens) Melanie (Alice Joyce) along with several others. The connection with Bill and Melanie, at first appears a bit seedy but the understanding he is granddaughter mauled by a zombie, due to his slowness and her parents chew upon before her own eyes, leaves them together. As with a large group the conflicts grow quickly and arguments of where to go and do expound fast, and there lies another problem coming from Sam (Tom Murton) a tough punk, who seeming reminds the audience watching out for the mentality unstable who have guns during a panic ensuing time. What really works for the film, the understanding that Steve expresses upon the cast, the brilliantly helplessness of sheer panic of isolation, and yet surrounded by zombies of all shapes and styles and fast and slow, developing truly the first class race of equality a rich zombie no different than a poor one. Collectively seeking the next meal to chew, consume and convert, all for one chomp, rising up to mowed down the living. The entire movie set itself to take place over a few days nothing lasting a long time, and then glimpses of other humans in brief aspects quickly adjusting to the problems and solving them in a survival of fittest mentality. Herein, lies one of those secrets hidden gems to discover, revealing it spoils it and not everyone discovers it, but the those who know horror and fantasy advantage will find it a bit original.
The zombie sub-genre is alive and thriving on fairly strong legs, especially with help and renewed interest in The Walking Dead, and the various strains of it consuming everything, making society into a consuming zombie feeding frenzy army of its own commercialism design. This is a fun film to enjoy, even though set in England, United States fans will crave attention to the movie from BrinkVision that redeems itself with clever lines in land of undead low budgets and covered with zombie children.
Steve’s film isn’t perfect and that works well for a zombie movie, especially this fast-paced creation, there’s something clever about it, the disjointed sequence of filming it spans the two years actually works. The characters, which sadly are mostly unknowns, and again the works well, they are equal, no one focuses on one person as the lead, and with many mowed by the rampaging army of the dead, the cruel characters slaughter in mass enjoyment, with just the amount of gore.
The zombie hordes drive the survivors out into the woods, away from the wealth of shelter, weapons, and conveniences, starving for survival, hunting for their hides, their human walking meal ticket. While the movie gives plenty to imagination, it delves with violence and suspense, though shies away from the gore aspects likely for budget reasons, but the overlook is okay, as the zombies look good and act properly, especially the cute cuddly zombie children.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2369573/
IMDb Rating: 3.7/10
Baron’s Rating: 3.5/10
This review was originally on the now defunct Rogue Cinema website.