Sometimes home grown can surprise you. Expectations for this low budget kiwi zombie flick set in Christchurch were not high for this reviewer, but the comedy horror feature length spoof turned up trumps recently with its premiere at the NZ Film Festival.
The cost to make the film was rumoured to have not reached the six figure mark. But it doesn't show, as this film has style, following in the tracks of Peter Jackson's early effort "Bad Taste" with its exploding sheep and kiwi humour mayhem.
It opens with a lone figure tramping deserted streets that suggests a post apocalypse setting. Zombies appear suddenly and are dispatched just as quickly in a over the top splatter manner by said lone figure. He links up with two fellow survivor mates who also casually knock off scary looking zoms with a skill saw, baseball bat, a golf club and any other weapon to hand.
The trio are an unlikely combo of geeky ex accountant Ash (Ashleigh Southam) and his two mates Morgan (Morgan Williams) and a raving rock and roller Johnny (Robert Faith). They get by as best they can in spite of the flesh munching undead menace.Then the love interest arrives in the form of gorgeous young scientist (Emily Paddon-Brown) as she seeks to find the vaccine that will save what's left of the normal world. Sexual rivalry is of course then let loose amongst the chaos.
Crazy stuff, but delightfully delivered with some neat acting, very funny dialogue, great soundtrack and judicious editing. It has that sort of zany "Flight of the Conchords" feel about it, and could easily become a cult classic. Impressive first effort, lots of stars, a madcap film well worth a visit if it comes back in the mainstream cinemas.
Laurence Shaw
