The International Film Festival Of The Living Dead
Two years ago, my brother and I set out to watch every zombie film ever created. We meet once a month and watch two at a time. Along the way, we’ve watched everything ranging from great films you would be proud to recommend to the truly awful ones that give garbage a bad name. But as is often the case in these apocalyptic scenarios, there was an unintended side effect! My brother and I realized we had accidentally become foreign film connoisseurs.
Apparently, zombies are not an American phenomenon. Our movie selections from month to month have spanned the globe. It seems every country on the planet that has the technology to make films has placed an entry into our favorite horror subgenre. And I’m not just talking about obvious places. (Did you know “28 Days Later†was filmed in Great Britain??!!) I’m talking places that make you say, “I didn’t even know they made movies!â€
So grab your passport because in our quest to watch every zombie movie ever, we’ve had to pass through more than one port.
CANADA PRESENTS: PONTYPOOL
Ah, Canada! The land of hockey, snow, and bacon that looks like ham. And also, one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever seen. Stephen McHattie, known to all as the captain of the ship in “2012â€, really gets to display his acting chops in this film. He plays a radio DJ who, over the course of one day, comes to realize that something strange is going on in the surrounding area. The story is told almost entirely at the radio station as McHattie and friends try to figure out what’s happening. And what’s happening is the most unique zombie-causing virus ever, which I will not spoil here. “Pontypool†is tense and haunting and highly recommended…eh?
SPAIN PRESENTS: [REC]
Having your horror film remade by Hollywood is not just for Japan anymore! If you’ve seen the movie “Quarantine†then you’ve seen [REC]. The two films are nearly identical, with the only noticeable variations being what caused the outbreak and the heroine being a lot less annoying in the Barcelona version. Both films have their merits and drawbacks and though I enjoyed them both, I would recommend [REC] first, if only so you don’t have to listen to Dexter Morgan’s sister endlessly sobbing and screaming for an hour.
GERMANY PRESENTS: RAMMBOCK
“Rammbock†gets right to the action, which is always a good thing in my view. And it pretty much has to since the runtime is barely an hour. But that hour is loaded with good stuff. Ingenuity, betrayal, and bravery all come into play at various points. There’s even a slight new twist that staying calm might temporarily fend off the zombie virus. “Rammbock†will leave you wanting more and not just because it’s so short. Because it’s really good.
GREECE PRESENTS: EVIL
I know, Greece, right? I can honestly say “Evil†is the only Greek film I’ve ever seen. Basically, some dudes enter a cave and get attacked by a force…an EVIL force. Only they don’t know it. They’re fine…until they’re not. There’s an implied mass zombie turning that takes place at a soccer game that would have been so much better if they could have showed it. Budget limitations hurt this one in that regard, but it’s also part of the fun. The zombie killing is hilariously innovative and super, super fake. There’s even a sequel that somehow has Billy Zane in it that I can’t wait to get my hands on.
NORWAY PRESENTS: DEAD SNOW
I’m not going to lie. I probably couldn’t find Norway on an unlabeled map. It’s where Thor is from, right? I’m sure we’ve all heard of “Dead Snowâ€, however. The one with Nazi zombies! This one is violent and actually quite funny in spots. I’m all for zombies being used for horror, but I also appreciate the films that don’t take themselves too seriously and “Dead Snow†definitely does not. Of all the films on this world tour, I would probably pick this one to re-watch first.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this brief tour around the zombie world. Do you have “It’s a Small World†stuck in your head? I know I do. But the trip doesn’t have to be over. There are still plenty of other countries that have visions of a zombie apocalypse. Like France, which has given us “Mutants†and “The Hordeâ€, (which I have reviewed on this very site). Or for the truly exotic and extra wacky, try “SARS Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis†from Thailand. Zombies are universal and they’re not going anywhere. Now, how do you say ‘brains’ in Russian? There’s got to be a Russian zombie film!
(For the record we have no idea where the image used on this post came from.)
