Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Feb 25, 2012 18:03:29 GMT -5
Plot:Students on summer break are exposed to a deadly virus, a neuroinvasive organism that is spread rapidly through direct human contact. The Infected are enslaved by the invading swarm intelligence and driven by an insatiable appetite to consume human flesh. Returning home, the students spread the infection to their fellow classmates and other unsuspecting townspeople. One by one, more students fall victim to the plague, triggering an epidemic that spawns a horde of ravenous zombies.
The zombie horde grows and spreads quickly. Amidst the chaos, a campus security guard, obsessed with conspiracy theories, leads a group of students to safety as they and a small band of uninfected townspeople set out to find other human survivors in an attempt to discover the source of the "zombie" virus and save the world.
Cast:
Dora Madison Burge
Melissa Carnell
Frederic Doss
Chip Joslin
Jonah Priour
Jesse Ferraro
Rheagan Wallace
Christine Quinn
My Thoughts:Bold attempt at something new.
Review:Zombie movies are getting repetitive these days. In more ways than one. If they don't revolve around some sort of evil corporation messing with nature. Doing stuff they shouldn't be. It's the government (U.S. or otherwise), mucking around with nature and creating an inevitable zombie outbreak. And then there are the zombie films where zombies just appear out of nowhere or come as a result of some unforseen event (Automaton Transfusion, Dance Of The Dead). But now, from filmmaker Brian T. Jayne, comes "hVZ:Humans Vs. Zombies".
A new indie zombie film that makes a pretty bold attempt at trying something new. Oh, the initial zombie outbreak is definitely classic and vintage. A deadly viral outbreak who's source is those pesky research scientist types. "Again". But the cadre of characters this time around, are actually quite refreshing. Yeah, there's the jock. And the awkward nerdy guy, and the pretty girl. But these characters seem more reluctant to embrace their scholastically-applied "social labels". Hence, you kind of end up pulling for all of them throughout the ordeal.
When the "infected" show up on campus, and start biting and infecting others. The writers even manage to squeeze a female gamer main character into this film. Who's actually the best character in the movie. As she's wise-cracking and bitchy. But in a charming "techie", kind of way. Not the holier-than-thou way we're used to seeing from most of the lead females in these sorts of movies. And actually having a curly-haired brunette share the lead female role with the generic blonde, was an interesting move as well.
One character I did not appreciate in the movie though. Was the security officer. He's pretty much the "attempted badass" of the group. And just comes off as more of a douchebag than anything else. Albeit he softens up as the movie, and his ordeal goes on. But when he links up with the group of students who're trying to escape the raging zombies, it becomes a situation where he's the leader only because he's armed with a gun and is older than the others. Instead of a scenario where he takes it upon himself to watch over, and furthermore...lead these kids out of danger.
Which even in a "non-zombie" situation, would be his job description after all. The zombies in the movie aren't really that fearsome though. And I guess due to the budget, they weren't really able to make them appear as gruesome and scary as a "28 Days Later" infected-zombie would look. But a decent enough job was done to make them look gross. But to actually make them appear as someone or something you'd flee in terror from? Eh, not really. If I were a main character in this film. I'd be fleeing simply because "it's a zombie".
And being bitten means you're finished. But there's something about making the zombies look visually terrifying beyond the red eyes and blood-encrusted lips, that just adds to a zombie film. But Jayne's movie manages to really ratchet up the gore factor to kind of mask the films weaknesses. When people get eaten in this movie, they REALLY...get EATEN. In some pretty graphic sequences. Which are quite stomach-turning and disturbing. Even in a small-budget indie like this. While "hVZ" doesn't offer too much intensity on the action scenes front.
It does a decent enough job of creating mild suspense when some of our heroes are attacked by one or more of the "walking infected". And the films finale is very awesome. Mixed with some cool zombie vs. human action, lots of blood, gore, and carnage, and a VERY unexpected (and ballsy) ending! Which winds right, down to the films final and closing scene. Which is NOT for those with a weak stomach.
I still don't know why this movie was called "Humans vs. Zombies". As that is obvious in just about every zombie movie ever made. But I guess they could've chosen a much worse, and cheesier title. So no major complaints from this viewer. Overall, "hVZ:Humans Vs. Zombies" is a good indie-zombie-pic. That is optimal for a Saturday night rental.
Positives:Not your average indie zombie movie, or indie horror movie for that matter, characters. Lots of cool blood, gore, and "zombie feasting" scenes. And a spectacular finale.
Negatives:The security officer character was too cliche and overdone at times. And the zombies needed a more fearsome appeal visually.
Overall:Three stars out of four.