Title: The Evil Dead
Year: 1981
Director: Sam Raimi
Leads: Bruce Campbell, Betsy Baker
Favorite quote: “We can't bury Shelly - s-She's a friend of ours.”
Thoughts: Okay, here’s where I lose all my cred.
I don’t like the Evil Dead series.
Truthfully, it isn’t Evil Dead’s fault. I love Sam Raimi and all his fancy little camera tricks. I love Bruce Campbell – how can you not love Bruce Campbell? I love the makeup and the effects. They’re spectacular.
I just have a personal issue with demonic possession as an explanation for zombie genesis. Where others argue against the infected living being classified as zombies, I argue against demonic possession. I mean, a demonically possessed zombie is just a dead body subject to the manipulation of an evil spiritual force – same as a living body would be. How is this a zombie? Genre-wise, stories like this should be lumped in with The Exorcist, not Night of the Living Dead.
However, the deadites from the Evil Dead universe have, somehow, become a time-tested part of the zombie canon, and so I’m obligated to count them towards my total. I don’t have to like it, though.
So, anyway, this is a story about how a fetal Bruce Campbell and his friends could have benefited from GPS and the Internet. Also, we learn that zombies will occasionally attack with pencils, and that you ought to be equipped with an eraser at all times, in addition to the usual shotgun.
About the only serious things I could cull from this viewing of ED were the repetition of the idea of the zombie as earth elemental (from the infamous tree rape scene), and the concept of blood as the source of life – as we learn in ED2, it’s life that the deadites are attracted to and crave, not necessarily blood or flesh. I could link this idea loosely to the fact that Russo’s brain-noshers are electrical impulse junkies, but I won’t. I'm tired of talking about them.
And of course, the chainsaw scene. Brilliant. Brilliant. I gotta give props there.
Links: The Evil Dead at IMDB
The Evil Dead on Wikipedia
Saturday, October 17, 2009
30 - Quarantine
Title: Quarantine
Year: 2008
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Leads: Jennifer Carpenter, Scott Percival
Favorite quote: “So, let's just pretend you're five years old and on fire.”
Thoughts: Quarantine is a remake of the Spanish zombie movie [Rec] – and I mean a down-to-the-shot remake, in places. However, there are enough tweaks that I feel I can honestly add another film to my quota.
For instance, we see the cameraman this time – why is that important? I’m still not sure. [Rec] managed to humanize the disembodied character of the cameraman, Pablo, without us ever seeing him.
The feel of the film is also distinctly different. It’s a bit a glossier, and has a bit more atmosphere. Characters have been subtly shifted about. There are minor scene changes and additions, such as the police gundown scene (which, in [Rec], is used to convey the idea of a police coverup, and in Quarantine is viewed simply as a tragedy), and the scene with the infected dog in the elevator.
There are also distinct differences between the illness in [Rec] and in Quarantine. As an example, in the remake victims of the illness show more initial uneasiness and fear when approached, while in [Rec], they seem to stand perfectly still. In Quarantine the sickness is compared to rabies, and we see far more medical stuff going on – for instance, an attempt by the medical examiner to extract a brain sample from a victim. We also see clear suggestions that the illness encourages cannibalism/eating, such as a savaged animal corpse; in [Rec] we had only a few throwaway comments about victims eating flesh.
Ultimately, even the investigation of the genesis of the illness includes trappings of medicine and experimentation. Escaped rats are to blame for the spread of the virus, which was apparently being developed by a secretive member of a doomsday cult. Stupid cultists, driving down property values.
The staircase scene was much more effective in [Rec]. In Quarantine they show a few zombies, and it's all very "oh crap," yes...but for some reason the way they framed it in the original film, it looked almost like an Escher print and it was like, "OH CRAP."
Also, I just grabbed Dexter’s sister from Silverback. Bwahahahaha. She loves that show.
Links: Quarantine at IMDB
Quarantine on Wikipedia
Year: 2008
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Leads: Jennifer Carpenter, Scott Percival
Favorite quote: “So, let's just pretend you're five years old and on fire.”
Thoughts: Quarantine is a remake of the Spanish zombie movie [Rec] – and I mean a down-to-the-shot remake, in places. However, there are enough tweaks that I feel I can honestly add another film to my quota.
For instance, we see the cameraman this time – why is that important? I’m still not sure. [Rec] managed to humanize the disembodied character of the cameraman, Pablo, without us ever seeing him.
The feel of the film is also distinctly different. It’s a bit a glossier, and has a bit more atmosphere. Characters have been subtly shifted about. There are minor scene changes and additions, such as the police gundown scene (which, in [Rec], is used to convey the idea of a police coverup, and in Quarantine is viewed simply as a tragedy), and the scene with the infected dog in the elevator.
There are also distinct differences between the illness in [Rec] and in Quarantine. As an example, in the remake victims of the illness show more initial uneasiness and fear when approached, while in [Rec], they seem to stand perfectly still. In Quarantine the sickness is compared to rabies, and we see far more medical stuff going on – for instance, an attempt by the medical examiner to extract a brain sample from a victim. We also see clear suggestions that the illness encourages cannibalism/eating, such as a savaged animal corpse; in [Rec] we had only a few throwaway comments about victims eating flesh.
Ultimately, even the investigation of the genesis of the illness includes trappings of medicine and experimentation. Escaped rats are to blame for the spread of the virus, which was apparently being developed by a secretive member of a doomsday cult. Stupid cultists, driving down property values.
The staircase scene was much more effective in [Rec]. In Quarantine they show a few zombies, and it's all very "oh crap," yes...but for some reason the way they framed it in the original film, it looked almost like an Escher print and it was like, "OH CRAP."
Also, I just grabbed Dexter’s sister from Silverback. Bwahahahaha. She loves that show.
Links: Quarantine at IMDB
Quarantine on Wikipedia
29 - [Rec]
Title: [Rec]
Year: 2007
Director: Jaume Beleguero, Paco Plaza
Leads: Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso
Favorite quote: “There are incredible security measures in place. We know nothing. They haven't told us a thing. We saw special forces, health inspectors wearing suits and masks, and it's not very comforting.”
Thoughts: After viewing Quarantine one dark and stormy night, I suspected that I might have inadvertently watched a zombie film. After tracing its lineage and watching [Rec], I’m certain of it.
Thing is, I know there are zombie fans out there who’ll rail at me for thinking so. You wouldn’t believe the resistance you’ll face for just, say, casually mentioning 28 Days Later as a zombie flick. “Oh, no,” said fans argue. “Those aren’t zombies. Those are violent, sick people. There’s a difference.”
What these fans need to understand is that zombies were originally living hypnotic/magical slaves, not cannibalistic corpses - and are now, as conceptualized by a growing number of artists and consumers, living people afflicted with an illness, not...cannibalistic corpses. There is nothing revolutionary about this idea. I actually find the fact that we’ve cycled back to this idea of the zombie as a "cursed," but living person kind of refreshing. While I love dead zombies and all their trappings, I think they’ve been focused on to the point of myopia.
Therefore, I am including these films in the zombie canon, at least for my purposes. So, let’s go.
[Rec] is a really effective cheap zombie movie. In fact, it’s everything Blair Witch promised me it would be and failed to deliver. It makes really excellent use of first-person camera shots to compound the sense of claustrophobia and mounting horror. In fact, that’s probably why I like it so much – claustrophobia is an issue for me, and something I find far scarier than zombies. The final zombie chase up the stairs gives me an honest chill. I love stuff like that.
The only confusing thing about the plot is the origin of the zombifying illness (which is apparently enzyme-based?). While it can obviously be traced to the meddling of at least one mentally ill individual, it’s also suggested that the Catholic church is involved. The idea of demonic possession is played with, and this theme is echoed strongly by the appearance of what I’ll term Patient Zero, as well as subtle imagery throughout the rest of the movie. For instance, when the medical examiner finally enters the building, there is a fairly long shot where it appears that a coworker or supervisor is checking his helmet. In retrospect, I believe the intent was to indicate that he was being blessed before entering the apartment complex.
I don’t completely buy this explanation, myself. After all, it is clear from the film that animals can also be infected (and according to Catholics, animals don’t have souls). If this really is a demonic possession zombie movie, though, then it’s the first one I’ve ever liked. You’ll learn my opinions about the Evil Dead series, for example, later on. (Hint: they are not favorable. Those faceless zombie fans are now panting for my blood...)
Links: [Rec] at IMDB
[Rec] on Wikipedia
Year: 2007
Director: Jaume Beleguero, Paco Plaza
Leads: Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso
Favorite quote: “There are incredible security measures in place. We know nothing. They haven't told us a thing. We saw special forces, health inspectors wearing suits and masks, and it's not very comforting.”
Thoughts: After viewing Quarantine one dark and stormy night, I suspected that I might have inadvertently watched a zombie film. After tracing its lineage and watching [Rec], I’m certain of it.
Thing is, I know there are zombie fans out there who’ll rail at me for thinking so. You wouldn’t believe the resistance you’ll face for just, say, casually mentioning 28 Days Later as a zombie flick. “Oh, no,” said fans argue. “Those aren’t zombies. Those are violent, sick people. There’s a difference.”
What these fans need to understand is that zombies were originally living hypnotic/magical slaves, not cannibalistic corpses - and are now, as conceptualized by a growing number of artists and consumers, living people afflicted with an illness, not...cannibalistic corpses. There is nothing revolutionary about this idea. I actually find the fact that we’ve cycled back to this idea of the zombie as a "cursed," but living person kind of refreshing. While I love dead zombies and all their trappings, I think they’ve been focused on to the point of myopia.
Therefore, I am including these films in the zombie canon, at least for my purposes. So, let’s go.
[Rec] is a really effective cheap zombie movie. In fact, it’s everything Blair Witch promised me it would be and failed to deliver. It makes really excellent use of first-person camera shots to compound the sense of claustrophobia and mounting horror. In fact, that’s probably why I like it so much – claustrophobia is an issue for me, and something I find far scarier than zombies. The final zombie chase up the stairs gives me an honest chill. I love stuff like that.
The only confusing thing about the plot is the origin of the zombifying illness (which is apparently enzyme-based?). While it can obviously be traced to the meddling of at least one mentally ill individual, it’s also suggested that the Catholic church is involved. The idea of demonic possession is played with, and this theme is echoed strongly by the appearance of what I’ll term Patient Zero, as well as subtle imagery throughout the rest of the movie. For instance, when the medical examiner finally enters the building, there is a fairly long shot where it appears that a coworker or supervisor is checking his helmet. In retrospect, I believe the intent was to indicate that he was being blessed before entering the apartment complex.
I don’t completely buy this explanation, myself. After all, it is clear from the film that animals can also be infected (and according to Catholics, animals don’t have souls). If this really is a demonic possession zombie movie, though, then it’s the first one I’ve ever liked. You’ll learn my opinions about the Evil Dead series, for example, later on. (Hint: they are not favorable. Those faceless zombie fans are now panting for my blood...)
Links: [Rec] at IMDB
[Rec] on Wikipedia
28 - Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave to the Grave
Title: Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave to the Grave
Year: 2006
Director: Ellory Elkayem
Leads: John Keefe, Aimee-Lynn Chadwick, Peter Coyote
Favorite quote:
“Well, do you have any idea what the hell this is?”
“Maybe it's candy? Like a big metallic pinata?”
Thoughts: You so owe me.
The people in this movie cannot act. To a man. I would question any attempt at emotional expression from them irrespective of time, place, or situation. An actor from this movie could be screaming, his leg caught in a bear trap, and I still wouldn’t give his performance much credibility.
There’s so much grade-A Stupid ™ in Rave that I find myself stymied by just how to report it, and wondering if I should even try. I mean, not only will it be challenging to convey, but it’s also of a level where I really doubt that anyone would honestly believe me. Between the evil uncle administering Trioxin 5 to corpses via a respiratory mask (what are they going to do, breathe it in?), the Russian hit men reporting that five zombies are worth a case of Cristal and a trip to EuroDisney on the black market (seriously? A world economics joke? The cold war’s been over for a while, people), and the creation of a rave drug out of Trioxin that users say is comparable to ecstasy (but, but...original zombies...wanted brains to ease pain of being dead...help), and the zombie gerbils...yeah.
The only thing that made Rave a little bit more watchable than Necropolis for me was...I don’t even know what to call him. I can’t even find him listed under the credits on IMDB. Tar Man Two? I think I’ll call him Vat Boy. Tar Man and Vat Boy! At any rate, Vat Boy, an obvious rip-off of the far superior Tar Man, was not only awesomely designed, but capable of writing fairly well and attempting to hitchhike. Further evidence for my contention that many zombies are intelligent.
Oh, and in this movie, scratches cause zombies. So they’re werewolves, now. Uh-huh. You get the same thing in the first Resident Evil movie. I'm going to have to trace this idea.
But first, I need to lie down.
Links: ROTLD5 at IMDB
ROTLD5 on Wikipedia
Year: 2006
Director: Ellory Elkayem
Leads: John Keefe, Aimee-Lynn Chadwick, Peter Coyote
Favorite quote:
“Well, do you have any idea what the hell this is?”
“Maybe it's candy? Like a big metallic pinata?”
Thoughts: You so owe me.
The people in this movie cannot act. To a man. I would question any attempt at emotional expression from them irrespective of time, place, or situation. An actor from this movie could be screaming, his leg caught in a bear trap, and I still wouldn’t give his performance much credibility.
There’s so much grade-A Stupid ™ in Rave that I find myself stymied by just how to report it, and wondering if I should even try. I mean, not only will it be challenging to convey, but it’s also of a level where I really doubt that anyone would honestly believe me. Between the evil uncle administering Trioxin 5 to corpses via a respiratory mask (what are they going to do, breathe it in?), the Russian hit men reporting that five zombies are worth a case of Cristal and a trip to EuroDisney on the black market (seriously? A world economics joke? The cold war’s been over for a while, people), and the creation of a rave drug out of Trioxin that users say is comparable to ecstasy (but, but...original zombies...wanted brains to ease pain of being dead...help), and the zombie gerbils...yeah.
The only thing that made Rave a little bit more watchable than Necropolis for me was...I don’t even know what to call him. I can’t even find him listed under the credits on IMDB. Tar Man Two? I think I’ll call him Vat Boy. Tar Man and Vat Boy! At any rate, Vat Boy, an obvious rip-off of the far superior Tar Man, was not only awesomely designed, but capable of writing fairly well and attempting to hitchhike. Further evidence for my contention that many zombies are intelligent.
Oh, and in this movie, scratches cause zombies. So they’re werewolves, now. Uh-huh. You get the same thing in the first Resident Evil movie. I'm going to have to trace this idea.
But first, I need to lie down.
Links: ROTLD5 at IMDB
ROTLD5 on Wikipedia
27 - Return of the Living Dead 4: Necropolis
Title: Return of the Living Dead 4: Necropolis
Year: 2005
Director: Ellory Elkayem
Leads: John Keefe, Aimee-Lynn Chadwick, Peter Coyote
Favorite quote: “What’s with the zombie petting zoo?”
Thoughts: Well. I’ve put it off long enough. Time to pay the piper.
You know how I pretty much hate this branch of the zombie family tree? Brain-eating, Trioxin, the whole deal?
Yeah. Four and five are the worst installments. Four and five are two of the worst zombie films ever. Period. End of debate. They are actually almost physically painful to sit through.
But I did it – for you. I did it for you.
You owe me.
ROTLD4 and ROTLD5 mark a turn in the Return series. No longer are we working with pure Trioxin, but some derivative chemical called Trioxin 5. Unfortunately for us, this chemical produces zombies which are far, far lamer than the first generation of Trizoms. I still have no idea what the thought process behind this change was, as the movies are now populated by stupid, inarticulate, weak walking dead who can easily be taken out with a few bullets. You don’t even have to aim for the head. At least in the original Return, you had to worry about independently-motivated body parts coming after you.
The people involved with ROTLD4 shouldn’t be mistaken for a lot capable of making good life decisions, however. I'm pretty sure they're responsible for roughly 50% of the posts made to Texts From Last Night.
And not only that – the living characters in Necropolis are so incredibly daft, cloying, and irritating that I spent most of my time actively rooting for each one of them to die, and was supremely disappointed to find that some of them did not. I mean, these are people who were, ostensibly, born during the time of zombies – at least, going by the Hybra Tech commercial that’s constantly flashing across their television screens. And yet, when confronted with a zombie, they do not recognize it as such? They haven’t been warned about the possibility of meeting one at some point during their lives, and taught about the actions they may have to take to defend themselves? God, their educational system sucks.
(Example of a brilliant zombie educational program.)
Ugh. There’s just so much wrong with this movie, when compared to the three that came before, that I really oughtn’t to harp on it. I ought to treat it as a completely separate entry in the zombie canon. I mean, the enslaved punk zombie gladly ate the old brains it was fed, what? Russo zombies need electricity from fresh bra...I give up. I need to walk away.
Let’s just say that by the time we got to the zombie with the gatling gun arm, they could not buy my love. It takes time and effort to be that bad.
Links: ROTLD4 at IMDB
ROTLD4 on Wikipedia
Year: 2005
Director: Ellory Elkayem
Leads: John Keefe, Aimee-Lynn Chadwick, Peter Coyote
Favorite quote: “What’s with the zombie petting zoo?”
Thoughts: Well. I’ve put it off long enough. Time to pay the piper.
You know how I pretty much hate this branch of the zombie family tree? Brain-eating, Trioxin, the whole deal?
Yeah. Four and five are the worst installments. Four and five are two of the worst zombie films ever. Period. End of debate. They are actually almost physically painful to sit through.
But I did it – for you. I did it for you.
You owe me.
ROTLD4 and ROTLD5 mark a turn in the Return series. No longer are we working with pure Trioxin, but some derivative chemical called Trioxin 5. Unfortunately for us, this chemical produces zombies which are far, far lamer than the first generation of Trizoms. I still have no idea what the thought process behind this change was, as the movies are now populated by stupid, inarticulate, weak walking dead who can easily be taken out with a few bullets. You don’t even have to aim for the head. At least in the original Return, you had to worry about independently-motivated body parts coming after you.
The people involved with ROTLD4 shouldn’t be mistaken for a lot capable of making good life decisions, however. I'm pretty sure they're responsible for roughly 50% of the posts made to Texts From Last Night.
And not only that – the living characters in Necropolis are so incredibly daft, cloying, and irritating that I spent most of my time actively rooting for each one of them to die, and was supremely disappointed to find that some of them did not. I mean, these are people who were, ostensibly, born during the time of zombies – at least, going by the Hybra Tech commercial that’s constantly flashing across their television screens. And yet, when confronted with a zombie, they do not recognize it as such? They haven’t been warned about the possibility of meeting one at some point during their lives, and taught about the actions they may have to take to defend themselves? God, their educational system sucks.
(Example of a brilliant zombie educational program.)
Ugh. There’s just so much wrong with this movie, when compared to the three that came before, that I really oughtn’t to harp on it. I ought to treat it as a completely separate entry in the zombie canon. I mean, the enslaved punk zombie gladly ate the old brains it was fed, what? Russo zombies need electricity from fresh bra...I give up. I need to walk away.
Let’s just say that by the time we got to the zombie with the gatling gun arm, they could not buy my love. It takes time and effort to be that bad.
Links: ROTLD4 at IMDB
ROTLD4 on Wikipedia
26 - Zombieland
Title: Zombieland
Year: 2009
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Leads: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
Favorite quote: “Thank God for rednecks!”
Thoughts: Wow. I never thought this day would come.
I have a favorite zombie hunter.
Zombieland was awesome. I was lucky enough to be able to sit in on the panel at Comic-Con 2009, so I knew it was going to be awesome, but still. I think this is the first zombie movie I’ve ever seen where I actually prayed that all the principal living survivors would make it. I liked them. I wanted them to live long enough to see the zombies transition to intelligent, post-mortal beings. (It’ll happen. You just have to wait a while. It’s like the Rapture.)
But for me, the film ended up being about Tallahassee. That’s the type of guy I want to tough it out with. Someone who seizes the day. Someone who’s slightly touched in the head. I think you have to be, to make it in a land filled with dead folks. Anyone can survive the Apocalypse, but post-apocalyptic self-actualization is consistently dependent upon some level of pre-existing insanity.
(This.)
The zombies in this movie, though, are fairly bland. Hopefully, if a sequel is indeed made, the zombies will get a little love and attention. I can hope.
Links: Zombieland at IMDB
Zombieland on Wikipedia
Year: 2009
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Leads: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
Favorite quote: “Thank God for rednecks!”
Thoughts: Wow. I never thought this day would come.
I have a favorite zombie hunter.
Zombieland was awesome. I was lucky enough to be able to sit in on the panel at Comic-Con 2009, so I knew it was going to be awesome, but still. I think this is the first zombie movie I’ve ever seen where I actually prayed that all the principal living survivors would make it. I liked them. I wanted them to live long enough to see the zombies transition to intelligent, post-mortal beings. (It’ll happen. You just have to wait a while. It’s like the Rapture.)
But for me, the film ended up being about Tallahassee. That’s the type of guy I want to tough it out with. Someone who seizes the day. Someone who’s slightly touched in the head. I think you have to be, to make it in a land filled with dead folks. Anyone can survive the Apocalypse, but post-apocalyptic self-actualization is consistently dependent upon some level of pre-existing insanity.
(This.)
The zombies in this movie, though, are fairly bland. Hopefully, if a sequel is indeed made, the zombies will get a little love and attention. I can hope.
Links: Zombieland at IMDB
Zombieland on Wikipedia
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
25 - Zombi 2 / Zombie / Zombie Flesh Eaters
Title: Zombi 2 / Zombie / Zombie Flesh Eaters
Year: 1979
Director: Lucio Fulci
Leads: Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch
Favorite quote: “I don’t believe that the dead can come back to life!”
“And Lucas not believe that the dead be dead.”
Thoughts: My boyfriend and I decided that my unedited notes should be sufficient, this time. Mostly because my allergy medication is messing with my mind. So, here you go! Straight from the notepad!
Strikingly beautiful film, in some respects. Fakest blood ever.
What airport is that?!
Nice imposition of science directly on a location involved in voodoo. Voodoo/bite/scientific model mess.
Zombie shark!! Zombie in this scene is really freaking beautiful. Almost tentacled.
Constant juxtaposition of zombies and sex. (With Italian filmmakers, anything with sex?)
For me, it’s not the eye impaling, it’s the eye SCRAPING.
Question: Why the willingness to kill post-transformation, but not pre-transformation? Cemetery Man, etc.
Love zombies swaddled like rag dolls.
Zombies eat placidly from the same body – no competition.
Love the shooting sound as the dead rise from their graves, like tree roots whipping about.
Looove the ending.
Primo makeup. Stiff, dessicated graveyard zombies – blood looks even faker in comparison. But absolutely beautiful. Like voodoo dolls. Arm falls off burning zombie, like dripping candle wax.
Lack of zombie personality.
Links: Zombi 2 at IMDB
Zombi 2 on Wikipedia
Year: 1979
Director: Lucio Fulci
Leads: Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch
Favorite quote: “I don’t believe that the dead can come back to life!”
“And Lucas not believe that the dead be dead.”
Thoughts: My boyfriend and I decided that my unedited notes should be sufficient, this time. Mostly because my allergy medication is messing with my mind. So, here you go! Straight from the notepad!
Strikingly beautiful film, in some respects. Fakest blood ever.
What airport is that?!
Nice imposition of science directly on a location involved in voodoo. Voodoo/bite/scientific model mess.
Zombie shark!! Zombie in this scene is really freaking beautiful. Almost tentacled.
Constant juxtaposition of zombies and sex. (With Italian filmmakers, anything with sex?)
For me, it’s not the eye impaling, it’s the eye SCRAPING.
Question: Why the willingness to kill post-transformation, but not pre-transformation? Cemetery Man, etc.
Love zombies swaddled like rag dolls.
Zombies eat placidly from the same body – no competition.
Love the shooting sound as the dead rise from their graves, like tree roots whipping about.
Looove the ending.
Primo makeup. Stiff, dessicated graveyard zombies – blood looks even faker in comparison. But absolutely beautiful. Like voodoo dolls. Arm falls off burning zombie, like dripping candle wax.
Lack of zombie personality.
Links: Zombi 2 at IMDB
Zombi 2 on Wikipedia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
