User reviews

Well-made story of the politics of controlling a plague. This is a thinking man's horror movie: An allegory for HIV/AIDS and similar viral outbreaks, this virus makes its victims into zombies: They're crazed, they spread the virus through biting, and to kill them requires shooting them in the head. But zombies and their gore are rare in this movie. Rather, the focus is on potential zombies, infected people who are kept normal though daily injections. The virus isn't curable, but it is manageable, but only if society supports the victims with expensive drugs, and only as long as each victim is responsible about taking their daily dosage. These factors make the infected a time bomb, a hypothetical that becomes a more urgent reality with rumors that the drug is running out. The story is personalized by Alex and Kate, who show the battle to control the disease, the consequences of not doing so, and the societal impact on their personal lives. Unlike most zombie movies, this one does not focus on the standard action scenes of zombies swarming, eating people, and getting slaughtered with ever more creative head wounds. Nor is this a dystopian future depicting the breakdown of society from a planet overrun by the infected with a few living humans struggling to survive. Rather this horror is psychological: controlling a plague, caring for loved ones, balancing the good of the few with the needs of the many, and the desperate acts this necessitates. Well written and well acted, this is a gem in the horror genre.

This movie was amazing.

Right off the bat I will point out that IMDb list the genre as Drama/Horror/Thriller and that is exactly what it is. First and foremost it is a Drama. It's very sad and pulls at the right heart strings, which is a first coming from a Horror movie, as I shed a few tears. Mainly because the story touches on a very heavy subject matter in the most palatable way - euthanasia. Whether by ones own hand or another, when is that time to end it because of an incurable situation? How does one say goodbye? And is that just giving up?

This film, to some degree, was reminiscent of "Outbreak" where there is an advancing disease, a sad love story, slight doses of action and a scary animal that spreads the disease. However, "Outbreak" was far more literal, not nearly as clever and did not go to the depths that "The Returned" went to.

We could make the comparison that the zombie spread is an allegory for HIV. Some might say it is twenty years too late and the stigma is different, those individuals are usually negative because the personal stigma is still attached to those who are positive. So the HIV analogy is more personalised in "Alex", played by Kris Holden-Reid, as a man living with the virus, controlling it and medicating everyday to prevent the virus from taking over. No cure, just a managing program. The film takes the idea of a man living on ARV's to control his condition to that of an 'entertaining' zombie story which, often allows the viewer to think more about the symbolism as apposed to forcing the truth down ones throat.

We could focus on the politics where some people are ill and those that are not are so overwhelmed with fear they react to exterminate. Should they be allowed to protect themselves to such a degree? Is extermination an option in terms of preservation? And should the sick live in fear? But it provides a volatile backdrop to the story at hand, creating tension and supplying character motives.

The gem of this story is the relationship between "Alex" and "Kate" that only intensifies as the story progresses. It's the new age, grundge version of "Dying Young" where cancer is replaced with zombies and the refusal to go on chemo is replaced with a protein shortage but the love and resistance to say goodbye and let go is the same.

This film was unexpected, and I loved every moment it made my brain wheel rotate.

8/10

This is not a horror movie, but a thriller/suspense that addresses survival both at an individual and societal level. The plot is very well written, clever, rich in events and details, and no more predictable than strictly needed. It is entertaining, and at the same time intellectually and emotionally satisfying. Every single character is relevant, understandable, and put to good use.

All the necessary ingredients are there to deliver the story: a perfect cast, well balanced paces, impacting music, etc. The only thing I didn't like was the introductory titles, with their visually sickening spastic effects, but that's a detail really; it doesn't change my global opinion.

It's enjoyable to feel for the characters and to feel involved in a story once in a while. The Returned is a treat.

I have been wondering: where do all these zombie films come from? This one comes from Canada. Like everything else, genres come and go in cycles. Fortunately, this is one of the better in the cycle, if it is even a zombie film at all.

Very good news: this isn't a 'found footage' mess, so those of you, that like me prefer real movies, will be pleased.

In an interesting twist a 'new' take is offered on the 'zombies have problems too' theme. Early on we find that a serum that keeps the undead alive and normal is running out. What to do! From there we are treated to a very nice thriller.

In fact, thematically this could easily seen as a thriller and not a zombie movie. If you are one that must wince as you avoid the screen during some of the bloodier flesh-consuming relatives to The Returned don't worry. Very little of that untidy stuff.

For a small budget we get some pretty fair production. Nice camera work, nice score, all filmed in Canada where apparently one gets quite a bit for their money. And, the dreary Canadian background seems very fitting, nice and gray.

Though no one in the cast really stands out they all perform very well together. Unlike other small budget films there isn't that actor or two that is such a 'clinker' that the whole production suffers.

Overall, very watchable, on par with the better made for television stuff. I have read that some feel the ending is a bit shocking, but I can't agree with that at all. The plot is developed nicely by that point and all fits together very well for me.

It was the cover for this movie that initially caught my interest, as anything involving zombies does. So of course I had to give this movie a go.

And I will say, now that I have seen it, that it does bring some new energy and a whole new approach to the zombie genre. This is not your average shambling zombie movie where everyone is devoured in a galore of ghastly gore and blood. No, this is more intellectual approach to the genre.

The movie is about a strange virus that infects people with an odd disease, that if left untreated and not kept in check by a special serum, then those infected will turn into 'zombies' (in lack of a better word). However, this serum can only be extracted from a dying infected person, and as such, the amount of serum is short and time is running out for those infected.

If you enter this movie with the hopes of this being a bloody gore movie, then you will be sorely disappointed. There is very little of that, and there are no decaying, shambling zombies about to be found. But even with the lack of that (stereotypical aspect of the zombie genre), then "The Returned" turned out to be a really entertaining movie, and a nice breath of air to the genre.

Now, I assume that "The Returned" is not suitable for just anyone, but watch the movie with an open mind - pardon the pun - if you enjoy the zombie genre, because the movie is actually quite good.

The cast hired for the various roles were doing great jobs with their given roles. Especially Kris Holden-Ried who played Alex, he really carried the movie so nicely.

As for the ending of the movie, well, I personally didn't care for that particular ending, as it was stupid and sort of an insult to the entire movie that you just sat through and enjoyed. It was a shame that director Manuel Carballo went with that particular ending in my opinion.

But all in all, then "The Returned" is a well worthy addition to the zombie movie genre for its originality and different approach to the genre.

If this was made in the 1980s it may have had more relevance. However, in an age when HIV doesn't have the stigma levels it used to, it seems to be misplaced.

The story is slow and acting quality was middle of the road, with the actors being too serious for a zombie movie.

The script reminded me of college student projects with too many predictive stereotypical lines "I just wanted to let you know you're still the same guy to me," says the male friend in a bar when he finds out he's a zombie (or the politically correct Returned).

It just doesn't move along at any sensible pace or seemingly with any intent for the first 30 minutes or so. I wasn't sure if the writers / director knew which direction they wanted to take the movie: highlight bigotry (and create a yawn fest) or entertaining drama (which it never became).

The Returned (2013)

I'm sure every screenwriter is straining to find a way to tap into the zombie movie craze while it's hot. So here's the latest twist—an antidote exists for zombie-ness. Those who are now safely taking their medication are no longer zombies and are dubbed "the Returned."

Of course, these are prejudiced against, and of course there is a constant search for enough medicine to go around—but I'm getting ahead of myself. The main point is that now we can have the threat of zombies without quite having zombies. So maybe this isn't a zombie movie after all!

Except it is, and cleverly so. The leading woman is a doctor who is aware the shortage of medicine—and someone she loves (unnamed here) is one of the Returned, so it matters very much. Tension builds nicely in a couple of different ways, and the general mood (mostly avoiding the usual grotesqueness) is steadily intense. It's good stuff, and a nice surprise. I'm not sure why the overall rating is so low.

This is a Spanish production with a mostly North American cast, so it's basically a low budget fringe film. It doesn't feel like it, however, so expect something solid. Canadian Emily Hampshire is the leading actor, and she gives it all credibility. If there is a weakness here it might be a lack of adventure—the plot follows its logical line closely and the small turns of events are not surprising, quite.

Still, it's well enough done I say, watch it if you are inclined to this kind of movie at all. Or to a quieter kind of zombie plot.

After a bloody opening, one would expect the rest of the movie to follow the typical shenanigans of a living dead creature fest; however this is not the case. The Returned plays out more like a drama that displays the desperation of Kate and Alex as the supply of a protein (needed to be injected once a day) that keeps one from returning to the living dead becomes scarce. Alex is one of "The Returned' – the label for those who are lucky enough to get the solution within four hours of being infected, and his wife Kate is a doctor who treats the survivors.

Overall the movie was very captivating with a top notch cast and a realistic premise of how the response to a shortage of such a protein would be carried out in our society today. The visuals were exquisite, including a few gory scenes. My only criticisms are the ending (which I won't mention specifics here) that seems unnecessary and a moment where a Security Guard is drinking coffee out of an empty cut. Despite these setbacks, it's worth a watch! 8/10

Manuel Carballo's new zombie movie plenty of thrills , chills , gore and blood . This zombie thriller stars a good cast such as Kris Holden-Reid , Emily Hampshire , Claudia Bassols , Melina Matthews , Barry Flatman and Shawn Doyle . It is set in a post-zombie world , a place where a deadly zombie virus has infected mankind , but a single cure has been found . As a treatment called the "Return Protein" can stop the spread of the virus if injected quickly after infection, but cannot cure it . With injections every 36 hours, the "Returned" are able to live as though they were never bit, despite the virus still coursing through their veins . When it is discovered that the protein stock is running low , chaos hits the streets. Returned who run out of the protein turn to zombies and disasters , protesters turn to killers as they try to rid the streets of the returned, and right in the middle of it all are Alex and Kate . With daily injections, the "Returned" are able to live relatively normal lives, but with brutal attacks at the hands of Anti-Return groups and rumors that protein stock is running low, the world is again on the brink of chaos . In the midst of this turmoil are Alex (Kris Holden-Ried) and Kate (Emily Hampshire), a young , successful and enviable couple that are hiding a long held secret – Alex is Returned . As death and fear run rampant , Alex's secret becomes known and when the retroviral drug is running out , then chaos and destruction burst .

This zombie thriller ¨The Returned¨ from Spanish genre hub Filmax and being professionally shot by director Manuel Carballo . The film utilizes the opening credits sequence to address the conventions of the genre , only to completely move away from them for the rest of the movie . A mostly unnecessary flashback sequence—that is never returned to again until it's required to do some third act heavy lifting—gives horror fans what they come to expect from anything zombie related : blood , guts , screaming , gore , guns , more blood and horror as the dead become fearsomely undead . The Returned takes this idea , blows it up a bit, and then does something fairly intriguing . It decides not to be a zombie terror movie at all , in fact it is more a thriller than a horror flick . The main premise results to be the following : the viral outbreak that led to a zombie apocalypse has come and gone , and society is attempting to move forward . A cure of sorts was discovered that brings the recently infected back to normal, but the injections are needed on a daily basis . Nice acting from Emily Hampshire as Kate a leading doctor in the field of zombie virus' and Kris Holden Reid as Alex , a musician with a dark secret, he is a Returned ; both of whom must fight for a chance to live before he becomes a zombie .

Javier Salmones cinematography is excellent , creating a frightening and scary atmosphere , he's expert on sombre photography . Atmospheric musical score by Jonathan Goldsmith fitted perfectly to suspense , action and terror . This is a Canadian-Spanish co-production between Ramaco Media and Filmax or Fantastic Factory . Filmax is run by the Catalan producers Julio Fernandez along with his brother Carlos Fernández , being a successful company in charge of production horror/SF movies such as ¨The machinist¨, ¨Darkness¨ ,¨Stranded¨ , ¨Faust¨ and ¨The nameless¨, among others . The filmmaker Manuel Carballo is a fine Spanish director , he began as a camera assistant for Filmax/Julio Fernández in ¨Rottweiler¨, ¨Romasanta¨ , ¨Beyond Re-Animator¨ and ¨Dagon¨ . Manuel Carballo has directed a few films as ¨El Ultimo Justo¨ (2007) , ¨La Posesión De Emma Evans or Exorcismus¨ (2007) and TV Series as ¨Trece Miedos¨ . Furthermore , he directed Shorts : ¨Diminutos del Calvario¨ and ¨Seiken¨ .

watched THE RETURNED ...I don't know why the makers choose to claim it's genre as "horror" & gave people another ideas (This explains its rating on IMDb as only "5")

BUT apart from this "technical" mistake...this film is flawless & epic as per the choose subject...Its shows the most used & abused theme(Zombie) in a way..that have never been presented YET (another film WARM BODIES came a little close to this one BUT that was still an average teen movie) ...I mean this one makes you tense, raged, & cry...most IMPORTANTLY it doesn't let you get bored..with the use of unnecessary gore, violence & sex(tho I don't mind unnecessary sex)..ALSO they don't give away the plot till the very end(hard in these kinda films) + almost every cast member did a nice job esp the lead actors(BTW Who TF were they?..you got the point!?)

Its good film, Its a different film, &

Its a _MUST WATCH_ for almost everyone

I just finished watching this movie and I am left with no words… I am really left speechless… I was happily surprised and the only thing I want to do right now is to inform my friends about it!

A drama with zombies… No one will believe me! I really don't know if there is something else like this out their!

Really to all of you movie buffs out their, you must see this movie! Don't expect many zombies or killings. Actually this is not a zombie movie, so don't expect what you normally would see with this type of movie. It is a deep movie that deals with racial and social subjects that have to do with an illness.

This movie definitely adds to the zombie genre with its new idea and concept, that the zombie outbreak is already under control and people can be prevented from turning by a daily injection of some kind of vaccination. It focuses more on the social issues and emotional burden the people being involved have to face. It is interesting and has some good points. Acting is very good, as well as the production quality.

BUT

Don't expect hundreds of zombies. Don't expect splatter, gore and new unique methods of zombie-killing. This should be clear from the beginning and it's not a point of critique. As I said it's interesting. However, the story does not quite get there all the way. As original as the idea is, the whole story itself is not. There is something missing which is hard to grasp.

To conclude:

Drama? Yes! Horror? Barely. Thriller? No!

The world has survived a zombie virus. A cure has been developed using the zombies. If one dose of the cure is missed, the infected called "The Returned" gets turned. In Toronto, Kate (Emily Hampshire) is a doctor working on a synthetic cure. His boyfriend Alex (Kris Holden-Ried) is one of the Returned and there are rumors of a shortage. Alex comes out to their friends Jacob (Shawn Doyle) and his wife Amber (Claudia Bassols). Eve is a nurse stealing dosages and selling them to Kate who is stockpiling the cure.

This is a different take on the zombie genre. It's almost everything except the zombies. It's an intriguing idea. It takes a little too long to get going and to get the clarifying expositions. The idea is almost more important than the thrills. It's admirable to subvert the genre but it has to bring something else in its place. I give full marks for the idea but not so much for the movie.

Yes, not your typical zombie movie, this meaning you won't see your usual doze of thousands of zombies, blood and guts covering most floors and choked screams surrounding your walls. Is that really such a bad thing? Lets remember how this all started "Night of the living dead" was the pioneer, and it tried to be scary, to show a different kind of world. So does "The returned". I for one can say I completely understand why this one is over 6, because it really was pleasant to watch. Sure, the kick will be delivered in a different way than anticipated, or expected, but it's still a good kick, that will leave a mark on you.

So yeah, try it, recommend it for sure, not for all of you "zombie heads die hard" that want to see flesh and pain, cause this one doesn't deliver on such a level, but if you wanna see a post apocalyptic world, almost destroyed by a virus, here is the place to stop.

In my opinion, neglecting black comedies, such as Dead Snow and Zombieland, I think this one is my 2nd favorite modern zombie movie, after Open Grave.

It was fun to watch!

There was every little of blood and gore. I watched this Movie because just after watching the cured and reading reviews there was a lot of people saying oh the cured is a remake of The Girl with all the gifts and The Returned Movie and in the flesh TV Show. And I dont think it is really. Im not sure on The Girl with all the gifts as I haven't watched that yet but I will. With the cured, and The Returned I see that they stars of like years after the zombie apocalypse and it talks about having a cure which you have to take to become human again. its a little different with in the flesh as the zombie are people who has passed away and not just turned.

Anyway back to this movie and review I found that The paste was slow and it get boring at times. I just wanted a little more. This Movie was marketed as a zombie Movie, but There was only two senses with zombies though out the whole Movie. If you are expecting a Movie with zombies running around everywhere, then isn't the Movie for you. it was really a disguised as a type of HIV Movie. I found this out when the zombie virus first breaks out in 1984, which was around the time that HIV was first discovered. By a group at the University of California. The zombie infection in this Movie is to show us the fear that gripped the world back in the 80s, when AIDS sufferers were feared in equal measures.

I didn't like Kate that much, she made stupid decisions. In some scenes her charter was really good at thinking on the spot and was cleaver. But then in many scenes its like she's was a different person. Like putting important things in the front of the car in the seat and than rolling down that window.

I think the intro had a good way of telling us a little bit about the history of the virus and how it was like for Kate, I also liked how the first scene played out. And i think the acting was really good. I would of liked it more if it had young adult as they would be more my age.

This movie has some bloody scenes but it is not the focus of the movie. The few zombie scenes that are shown are not for shock value but to make the viewer understand the emotional turmoil the characters are facing. Some of the flash back shots could have been left out since they took away from the moment rather than adding to the heightening how you felt. The story that the movie tells is one of interactions between people, how we love defines what we are. The film asks the question, when do we lose our humanity and start to give in to our baser instincts? Kris Holden-Ried and Emily Hampshire make you care for their characters and their struggle. Shawn Doyle and Claudia Bassols play their roles well and have you asking yourself, What would I do? David Tompa has a very small role in the film as the father of a young returned, he does a great job making you feel his characters pain. You may be disappointed if all you are looking for blood. guts and gore; but if you are looking for a well made movie about human struggles then this is the film for you!

I am a HUGE Zombie movie fan and I enjoyed this one a lot!! If you are looking for Fast paced action packed blood and guts (such as The Horde, Berlin Undead, Mutants and Rec being my personal favorites), this isn't for you. Instead, it's a different perspective, a more human look at zombies, I guess. I'm not sure if it's based on the French series Las Revenants or not but THAT'S definitely on my watchlist as well!!!

It didn't get bogged down with too much detail and routine, so it stayed interesting, in my opinion, without all the action, screaming, growling, chasing and running!!

It managed to keep me guessing and the ending was not what I expected!!

Just a break from the typical zombie fare while remaining a zombie movie but still quite enjoyable to watch!!!

I really forced myself to like this film because people generally rate science fiction or horror films pretty hardcore. So when I picked this movie, I decided to grade it with a grain of salt. The beginning plot actually makes for an interesting movie. There have been two zombie outbreaks before the start of the film that forced a vaccine to be developed in order to save those temporarily if they had been bitten but not completely turned.

This at first made a good start to the film. However, the film made a very basic contrary argument in form of a rude fat slob who questioned about what difference this would make considering the fact that the vaccine only worked for 24 hours. The Zombie outbreaks were considered CATASTROPHIC, and yet essentially the main character ignores any sense to the realistic possibility of another outbreak by essentially making him look like some kind of jerk who wants to kill people. I mean... is it really terrible to think at a point where the world suffered two major zombie apocalypses, that the infected should be quarantined? I suppose its what makes the movie's conflict. However, there remains the total illogical stance about treating the infected like normal people. It seems a bit far-fetched considering she has a sexual relationship with someone who is infected.

Here in lies the problem of the film. Again, the world has almost collapsed from to world wide zombie outbreaks and yet the social structure is still much intact, and as viewers we are suppose to assume that protecting those infected and not yet turned as a rational aspect. They fail to see the many issues with having unmonitored infected people walking around normally around society that play, eat, and have normal relationships with those that are none infected... If you don't see any danger in this... then you'll probably hate this review. The film even shows how close it was when one didn't take his dosage for whatever reason and infected 5 people before being brought down. In normal society there are so many circumstances in which the infection could spread without knowledge and a pandemic arising right when a normal person realizes in their bedroom that they have been infected. Yet there are virtually no one turning. I'm glad that the people of the world are very responsible in taking their daily dose and being careful at their interactions with others.... not. The main character has sex with someone who is infected... so...

Another and more central problem is the people are actually not getting their daily dose because the vaccine has run out. In fact, the major characters in this film that need it, are only able to get it illegally. The rest of the people are ignored and I just don't see how this can be ignored by the viewer. This is a major plot hole! It doesn't work at all! Yet there are virtually no zombies in the film. The film shows one, that is assumed to have turned... and yet... the rest of the world it has not. The ending of the film is a complete bust. You'd have to see it with your own eyes, but its like a message where the main character should have trusted in humanity and the good will of what they are capable of doing. Because the world is saved out of thin air!!!

I believe there are naive concepts in the film that are supposed to be seen as instead, compassionate and rational. Yet, the real trouble is hidden away completely in this film. I mean, society still looks the same. They are still worried about money, instead of the tools, food, shelter, water, protection, that I'm sure they used during both the outbreaks. I almost really want to give this a lower rating. However, I will give credit where credit was due. Good beginning, bad prosecution of the film and horrible ending. I guess, I really hope things turn up the way they do if they ever arise like the ending of this film.

For the record, I will start out by saying I LOVE zombie shows, movies, etc. so I didn't have much hope for this film since it only received a 5.8 on IMDb. HOWEVER...I was pleasantly surprised as it is as dramatic as it is suspenseful and the leads are both quite good. It is a new twist on the zombie premise but a fascinating one. It really makes you think about how far YOU would go to help a loved one in a dire situation despite the laws and professional ethics. That really put a new element of emotion in this film. I'll be honest...I prefer a zombie show like The Walking Dead but I still enjoyed this effort and the really great cast also. It was filmed in beautiful Canada which added richness and beauty to the outdoor scenes which was also delightful. In conclusion, I watched it on Netflix and think you might like it, too. Give it a chance and you may very well be pleasantly surprised, too.