The Clearing

What did I just waste a Saturday evening watching?

A zombie movie that I had somehow missed? Needless to say that when the opportunity to watch the 2020 movie titled "The Clearing" here in 2021 then I jumped at the chance to sit down to watch it.

And while this movie definitely is watchable, it is ultimately just another zombie movie. Sadly so, but that is the truth. "The Clearing" from writer and director David Matalon just didn't revolutionize the zombie genre, nor did it bring anything that hadn't already been seen before.

Sure, I enjoyed the setting and environment of the movie. I mean, the concept of someone being away from civilization and just casually brushing off news bulletins of outbreaks of random violence and such, that was definitely interesting. But it was hardly something new to the zombie genre.

But of course, as is the way to go about it in 99% of all zombie movies, there was no explanation to the outbreak, what caused it and how did it manage to get to that remote area so quickly?

It should be said that if you enjoyed movies like "28 Days Later", then chances are high that you will most certainly also like "The Clearing". And don't get me wrong here, "The Clearing" is not a bad movie, it just caved in on all the tropes and archetypical presentations and angles of the zombie genre.

Personally I don't enjoy fast and agile zombies, and when they can run and jump, then it starts to get to the point where I am ready to get off the bus. Sure, I can understand why newly turned victims would be agile as rigor mortis haven't yet set in, but for me it just doesn't work as well with having zombies running and especially not jumping or being able to use choreographed fighting.

Visually then "The Clearing" was actually good enough. It wasn't the usual horrible low budget zombie make-up with faces painted gray and the rest of the body left to its normal skin tone. Nay, "The Clearing" actually had some good special effects and adequate amounts of gore. At least it was enough to keep a seasoned gorehound as myself content.

The acting in the movie was actually good for this type of movie. Sure, it wasn't award-winning performances, but the lead actor - Liam McIntyre - actually carried the movie quite well with his convincing performance. The movie has a very small cast, so there was more of a pressure to deliver on the leads. And they did manage that well enough.

Now, I must address the storyline, because it was a very simplistic storyline that was present in "The Clearing". Nay, I will say that it was actually also a weak and nearly non-existing storyline. I mean, everything took place at a campsite, with the protagonist being either trapped on the roof or locked inside their camping unit. So if you are looking for a zombie movie with a deeper and more profound plot and script, perhaps with some jabs at society like Romero did, then "The Clearing" will leave you wanting for more, that's for sure.

Ultimately "The Clearing" fell into being a stereotypical zombie movie. It was watchable, for sure, but it just failed to stand out in the vast ocean of zombie movies exactly like it. As such, my rating of "The Clearing" lands on a very mediocre five out of ten stars.

I'm not a massive fan of zombie films. But this movie wasn't too bad. I've seen alot worse.

Although he would rather be playing poker and drinking beer with some of his friends, "Tom" (Liam McIntyre) is convinced to spend the weekend with his adolescent daughter "Mira" (Aundrea Smith) camping in the woods instead. While driving there he hears strange reports of violent mobs suddenly breaking out all over but pays no real mind to it. Having then arrived at the camping site the two of them get situated and later on have some dinner with a group of other campers who have also recently arrived. The next morning, however, things change dramatically as those same campers become enraged zombies who swarm the two of them leaving Tom to fight them off while Mira runs into the woods. Eventually, Tom manages to barricade himself inside the camper and tries to come up with a plan to rescue Mira who has managed to allude the zombies but is left on her own without any food or shelter. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film had some outstanding action scenes. Unfortunately, the director (David Matalon) had nothing else to contribute as he kept repeating one nearly identical scene after another to the point that the film not only became somewhat monotonous but also quite exhausting to watch as well. At least, it was for me. That being the case, I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

This is worth a watch, but only once. Good fathers day movie for teens to watch, they may appreciate dad a little more.

It is a shoe string budget production with limited number of sets and locations. Special effects are extremely minimal with very quick camera shots to hide it.

The acting by the main character, the dad , is very good. With a better script and more money he could have carried the movie a lot farther. Oh well.

This movie is more like a snapshot of a couple days , not explaining how the sickness starts or even if it is world wide. For all the audience knows it could be just the immediate few miles. No way to tell.

I would not call it a zombie movie. The infected would be a better way to see it. They are not dead. And they die just fine. More of a 28 days effect than anything else.

The sick are pretty convincing, I have to admit. The daughter is your typical spoiled teen brat so no issues there.

There is no closure to the bigger infection story, the audience is asked to be content with the predictable ending involving father and daughter.

Probably a better watch if you drink a few beers first. I have given up alcohol, so I had to watch it dry.

I seen worse.