Episode 157: Automaton Transfusion

The Undead Symphony

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This awfully titled debut by Steven C Miller (Silent Night, Deadly Night, Extraction, Werewolves) was hailed in 2007 by Bloody Disgusting as being one of the best zombie movies in decades. I was skeptical. Why? Well, 28 Days later (2002), Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead (2004) and 28 Weeks Later that year. According to BD this was the holy grail of true independent horror films featuring the leanest, meanest, fastest zombies ever filmed in a non-stop horror masterpiece. Bold.
What it was was a pretty frenetic zombie movie, well filmed, well acted, superb practical effects, tense, full tilt in terms of running to literally survive. I could see Miller's potential showing through. Akin to Neil Marshall's talent coming through in his debut Dog Soldiers.
We follow some high schoolers that look like high schoolers, not 20-30 somethings. We have 3 friends, Chris, Scott and Tim, who have normal lives, Tim likes a cheerleader, the jocks hate this, Scott protects Tim, Chris is a stoner who dates one of the cheerleaders, and they all live in a podunk city in the middle of nowhere as people start to get sick and turn into fast moving, thinking, feeling zombies that want to kill and kill and kill again.
I liked it. Other than a couple of elements that were added late in the day. The effects and everything felt well planned and executed. Until the last bit with the janitor and then at the morgue, I was planning to give it 6, but ultimately it let me down. High hopes dashed.
However, it was recommendable and certainly better than most of the shit I watch. It was, for example, much better than that Nick Cannon version of Day of the Dead.
5.5/10 check it out, my people