Author's Note - Zombies

There is no denying that zombies are a very popular horror genre these days. With the success of shows like “The Walking Dead” and countless, horribly made films on Netflix, zombies are a major movie monster, ranking among the classics like vampires and ghosts. Ever since George A Romero helped change to concept of a zombie from a drugged voodoo victim to the hungry undead, zombie movies have steadily become more and more prominent. This week’s theme of zombies will include some of the best the sub-genre has to offer as well as a few that I haven’t seen yet. Hopefully I won’t regret renting them!

Besides the seven reviewed during this week, be sure to consider the other zombie related movies that I’ve reviewed previously if you’re looking for one to watch. These include -

1.      .  Dead Alive
2.     .   Dead Snow
3.     .  28 Days Later
4.     .  Dellamorte Dellamore
5.     .   La Horde
6.      .   Mutants
7.      .   REC 2
8.      .   REC 3

Mutants (2009)

I love movies that take place in snow covered settings. There is an extra level of isolation and unquiet that happens which takes a horror movie’s suspense that much further. Great examples include “The Shining”, “30 Days or Night”, and “Cold Prey”. The French film “Mutants” is another fine example, an otherwise typical zombie outbreak story that happens to take place in a large abandoned building out in the snow covered mountain side. Half of the film focuses on Marco and his slow and painful transformation into a zombie/mutant and Sonia who is trying to ease his pain and find help. The other half of the movie is about Sonia trying to stay alive once other mutants arrive and trying to not find herself in the position where she has to kill her infected lover. There is nothing truly exceptional about this film, in the zombie genre or French style, but I still really enjoy watching this one every few months as it’s simply a solid, entertaining flick.

Author's Note - French Horror

From what I’ve seen of the French horror scene, I’m thoroughly impressed! These films have such raw emotion and dare to push the level of comfort (for the audience) to the edge. The one thing I’ve noticed between the few French films I’ve seen and American movies is that the violence and gore is explained and/or justified. The reasons may not be the best but at least they’re there. These movies know what they want to do; tell a story and push the limits and intensity of each scene by having the characters suffer through such extreme situations. The film “Martyrs”, which I’ve already reviewed, is a great example and the version I rented began with the director of the film both apologizing for his work as well as thanking the viewer for watching. He was very sincere and but knew exactly what he had created, a movie that some (or a lot) of people were not going to be able to watch from beginning to end. 

A taste of things to come.....

"Sheitan"

"Haute Tension"

" À l'intérieur"

"Mutants"