Director: Marc Forster
Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, Damon Lindelof (Screenplay) Max Brooks (Book)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox, Fana Mokoena, David Morse, Peter Capaldi
Story: Retired United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt) has to use his former connection Thierry (Mokoena) to save his family from a zombie outbreak. Racing against near impossible odds he makes it, but there is a price for his family’s safety. Gerry has to go back into the field and try to discover the origin of the disease. This leads Gerry on a worldwide trip for answers and along the way he meets a string of characters.
Verdict: After reading the book I was unsure how to look at this film especially having a main character unlike the book. In the end it turns out very clever and instead of just trying to copy a story from the book it creates its own encounters with one overviewing character. Due to some high tension throughout you hardly even recognise that you have a huge name actor in the lead role. Another thing that really adds to this story is the range of different characters Gerry meets, each one offer something to his mission along with an alternative theory on what is happening.
Action: Some good chase scenes be it car or on foot (9/10)
Horror: for a zombie film this is more about the survival rather than the very graphic death scene which does take some horror out of the film but still leave you in a horrific scenario (9/10)
Thriller: From the first step of each scene you feel the tension raising each encounter leads to more edge of your seat scenarios much like the books encounters. (10/10)
Special Effects: A lot of CGI but some good effects for the closer encounter scenes (8/10)
Settings: The settings for all the encounters are very different and all have interesting outcomes (9/10)
Suggestion: When it comes to anything with zombies in I usually suggest to all horror fans and not many others, but with this one I feel it could be enjoyed by all action thriller fans too. The main reason for this is that the zombies are very almost PG and even though there are deaths they just are not very graphic, which is usually the turn off for certain viewers. The whole film feeling created is very similar to the aftermath in ‘I Am Legend’ along with the situations created in ‘2012’ so if you enjoyed either of these I feel you will enjoy this. (9/10)
Star Performance: Brad Pitt – pretty much because he holds each scene together even though some of the characters steal parts of scenes it’s his ability to look the part that gets him this pick
Favourite Character: Captain Speke (James Badge Dale) – A very interesting solider who has survived the outbreak with his platoon.
Best Part: I will pick the bicycle scene because I enjoyed the uniqueness of the idea.
Worst Part: Even though it is one of the best parts the whole zombie building some form of ladder to climb over the wall is very farfetched even for me.
Favourite Quote: ‘Most people don’t believe something can happen until it already has. That’s not stupidity or weakness, that’s just human nature’.
Trivia: Matthew Fox has a bigger role in the film which would have built up to being a human villain in a potential sequel, but due to re-writes his role ended up having only FIVE lines.
Similar Too: I Am Legend
Overall: A thrill ride from start to finish sit back and enjoy the story unfold
Rating 89%
