"Day of the Living Dead" is a frenetic, tongue-in-cheek parody of zombie tropes, distilled into a whirlwind 11 minutes of DIY chaos. Shot during the early days of remote collaboration, this micro-budget experiment revels in its absurdity, blending slapstick humor with a self-aware embrace of technical limitations. While far from polished, the film's unapologetic silliness and meta-commentary on low-budget filmmaking make it a cult curiosity for fans of underground cinema.
Sergey A.'s zombies-smeared with blue "blood" and clad in thrift-store rags-are a far cry from "The Walking Dead". Their exaggerated limp-arms-and-groans routine parodies genre seriousness, while Sergey's multiple roles (zombie #1 through #12) highlight the film's scrappy resourcefulness.
Actors shot their scenes independently, resulting in jarring shifts between grainy webcam footage, shaky smartphone clips, and Sergey's own lo-fi close-ups. This patchwork aesthetic, while technically jarring, inadvertently mirrors the disorientation of a zombie apocalypse.
Gore is minimal but inventive-think blue paint splatters and cardboard "weapons." The zombies' makeup (or lack thereof) leans into camp, with Sergey's dead-eyed stares and twitchy movements stealing the show. Jump cuts and abrupt transitions amplify the chaos, though they occasionally border on incoherent. The film's brevity saves it from overstaying its welcome.
While "Day of the Living Dead" lacks the cult following of Sergey's "Forest of the Dead Sharks" trilogy, it remains a niche favorite for its unhinged energy. Critics dismiss it as "amateurish," but fans praise its anti-establishment spirit. The film's legacy lies in its refusal to take itself seriously-a hallmark of Sergey A.'s filmography. "Day of the Living Dead" is less a zombie film and more a 11-minute prank on the genre. Its flaws-uneven acting, choppy editing-are also its charms. For viewers seeking polished horror, steer clear. For lovers of DIY absurdity, it's a riotous ode to chaos. A gloriously messy experiment. Best enjoyed with friends, popcorn, and zero expectations.
