The Eschatrilogy: Book of the Dead

I was fortunate enough to attend the premiere on 7th September and thoroughly enjoyed this film.    Three stories cleverly interlinking with each other which had me trying to guess how the story would unfold. I even started to build a rapport with some of the characters, albeit unlikely ones and was egging them on .. Naturally not going to give anything away now!   This film is deemed a low budget film, it sure doesn't give that impression to me as the editing and music were 1st class.  Various locations were used as well as a decent sized cast who clearly were giving it their all. The only negative aspect, which isn't really one is that I wanted it to be longer, I didn't want it to end.   Could there be a sequel? .. Yes please says me! ... You will not be disappointed, go see it!

I read a few reviews, some giving this movie a 4 Star review and then the there are the ones that gave this 10 stars with some @*%# about how others that gave this a low rating just didn't understand something about this movie. Well, this movie plain and simply gives proof that Britain should not be allowed to make, export or give advice when it comes to horror movies, and should only be allowed to make comedies.

You know .. I was really eager to see this film, and when I started watching it I thought this film looks truly beautiful!

It got me interested right from the start. The score sounded good and really added to the action. The plot kept you gripped and this isn't the usual 'zombie/monster' film, it is far more special than that. Even if you don't like horror films, watch this as this film is something different.

The acting was good and especially the children stood out for me, they added to the story.

Please make a point of seeing it, it will make you jump, feel moved at times and there were also some funny one liners. Brilliant!

If it's so bad then why did i give it an average score?.... Hmmmmm!. The acting is just terrible and i am pretty sure i have seen more convincing performances on TV adverts. The script makes Eastenders look half way impressive (Impossible feat i know) and as for the special effects. Well, they wouldn't look out of place on Red Dwarf. Still, i had such a laugh watching this film that i can forgive just how awful it is. It's one of them very rare 1 or 10 star rated films depending on your mood kind've like sandsharks. Anyways, i did enjoy it (for all the wrong reasons) and it's full of just about every zombie cliché out there ripped from everything from the original Dead trilogy to 28 days/months later (The stalking zombie was a highlight <3 ). The reason it gets 5 stars is because as i said it's soooooo bad but so funny that it deserves 10 stars, but also so bad that it deserves nil. Much love to the director/writer we need more garbage like this. If for nothing else but to make us realise just how good Romero's original trilogy is. Clearly the reviewers that gave such steller reviews were cast/crew/friends etc. Still, it has to be said that it was a fun hour and half just picking out how bad everything was. As for the score..... Rarely do i notice a score in films, but this stood out like a sore thumb. A film for the true masochist :D

It is easy to be cynical about the state of play of the filmmaking industry in Britain with the recent closing of the UK Film Council and the cuts made to arts funding by the government. Low-budget independent productions such as The Eschatrilogy blow these doubts out of the water, however, as they prove that money isn't everything. What is really important is the creative collective drive of passionate filmmakers determined to make something special and passion is something this film has by the bucket load.

The film opens with a montage of sole survivor Matthew (Tim Mcgill Grieveson) biding his time in a desolate forest hut. In between transporting zombie roadkill to the forest in a wheelbarrow he attempts to send out radio signals for other potential survivors. This sequence is beautifully shot, edited and acted, giving an indication of the fantastic cinematography right from the get-go. Although it is a lengthy scene to begin the film, we really get a sense of Matthew's loneliness and depravity in a bleak situation and this sets the tone for the three 'nightmare' segments that follow: 'Dead Inside', 'The Dying Breed' and 'A Father For The Dead'.

Now I won't spoil either of the stories - it is really something you have to see to believe how well the three sections are tied together by the survivor plot - but I can tell you that you won't have seen anything like this before. Clearly Romero's zombie series was a huge inspiration for The Eschatrilogy; however never once did you witness Romero's zombies show emotion and remorse for the beasts they had become. The overriding theme here is family and, like Romero, director/writer/actor Damian Morter weaves what can be interpreted as a social commentary of the present day. Cal (Morter) travels the land whilst documenting tales of horror in his book to act as a warning for others to support one another no matter what the circumstances. It goes to show that in the midst of economic crisis and war faith can be restored in humanity by supporting family and friends through difficult times.

In short: watch this film if you are even marginally interested in British horror. I can assure you that you won't believe it is such a low-budget production with all the talent on display. Safehouse Pictures UK is certainly an independent company to watch out for in the future.