Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

This is my “mini review”… OK, I really liked it, but I'm a sucker for stuff like that. My only complaint (which Gus triggered) is that the zombies are really fast and really strong… Whereas they should be more like really drunk undead cannibalistic hospital patients. I think that took away from the “realism” of the zombies — zombies shouldn't be supernatural… They should be something that sits on the line between real and not real (undead being a metaphor I suppose); I think it's why pseudo-zombie films like the BBC remake of Day of the Triffids are so good.

Anyway, the other thing to remember is that this remake is basically a “fan film” in that it was made by kids who were big fans of the original movies, as well as zombie films in general — there were tons of references to both the Dawn of the Dead series, as well as ones to Night of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead movies, to name just the blockbusters. And of course Evil Dead as well (hello chainsaw)… This is what happens when you give kids that grew up playing zombie a whack of money I guess.

While it's not really a remake per se (more like a movie inspired by zombie movies in general — like a non-funny parody almost — I actually think that might be the best way to describe this… a non-funny parody), there are a lot of “quotes”, sometimes whole sequences (although transposed onto new characters) and plotlines. I think maybe they tried to put in a little too much, but again, you have to watch this with the mindset that at least half the scenes source from the director getting stoned, watching Zombie Lake and saying to his buddies, “You know, if I ever make a zombie movie, I'd like to do that scene, but here's how I'd improve it…“

Anyway, it was fun, but don't go in expecting the artistry of the originals… but still, if you watch this one as a fan film you'll definitely get a kick out of it. I just wish the zombies were less Hollywood.