Operation Undead

After watching the movie, it's hard to shake off a certain sense of confusion and frustration, not just with the story, but also with how the film was put together. There's no denying that some aspects of the film had potential, but it was ultimately let down by its perplexing plot, questionable casting decisions, and an overall feeling that it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. It almost seems like the filmmakers were unsure whether they wanted to create an art film, a historical drama, or something else entirely. In the end, this indecision is one of the key reasons why the movie falls

Let's start with the positive aspects of the movie. One of the things that stood out was the quality of the makeup. The makeup team did a commendable job in transforming the actors to fit the roles they were playing. Creating a sense of realism in the battle scenes, or simply adding to the overall atmosphere of the movie, the makeup team clearly put in the effort, and it showed.

Similarly, the special effects were decent. While they weren't groundbreaking or revolutionary by any means, they were serviceable for the type of movie this was trying to be. The explosions, the visual atmosphere, and the fight scenes all had a certain level of polish that made them believable, even if they weren't spectacular. It's clear that the effects team knew what they were doing and delivered a solid product, but the problem lies in the fact that even good effects can't save a movie with a poor storyline.

Now, let's move on to what really drags this movie down: the story. It's hard to put into words just how strange and disjointed the plot feels. From the very beginning, it becomes apparent that the narrative lacks any real direction or purpose. The events that unfold on screen seem random at times, and the pacing is all over the place. One minute, you're watching what seems like an intense moment , and the next, you're left scratching your head, wondering what the point of a particular scene was.

The plot itself is a bizarre mix of history and fiction, with elements that seem almost nonsensical. For example, the film attempts to depict a period of Thai history where the country was struggling. While it's true that Thailand has faced hardships, the portrayal in the movie feels exaggerated and historically inaccurate. One of the biggest missteps was the idea that people in that era would be able to casually take photographs. In reality, photography was a luxury that few could afford, especially in poorer regions, making this aspect of the story feel forced and out of place. It's hard to immerse yourself in the film when basic historical facts seem to have been ignored.

I saw this one in the cinema because the story and trailer intrigued me. A made-in-Japan zombie virus lands on Thai shores during World War II, so the Japanese and Thai army have to contain the threat and keep it under cover at any cost. There is enough war action and some interesting set pieces (tropical beach, jungle, cave etc.), plus good portions of blood and gore, which was a nice surprise. However, as usual with Thai movies, a lot of unnecessary melodrama kicks in and it's made worse from the fact that the zombie ghouls...speak and weep for their families and loved ones... As a result, it's not as good as the previous Thai zombie film I'd seen (The Black Death from 2015), but it still has some interesting zombie mayhem moments to offer. As an extra note, the director started as part of the 'Ronin Team', responsible for the black magic horror classics Art Of The Devil 2&3, so he shows a taste for blood and gore in this offering as well. And it's not a zomedy, which is a good thing.

Initially I was thrilled to watch the 2024 Thai zombie movie "Operation Undead" from writer and director Kome Kongkiat Komesiri. Sure, I had never heard about it, but a movie that combines two of my favorite things, Asian movies and zombie movies, of course I needed no persuasion to check out the movie.

But my excitement was short-lived. While the concept behind the movie is interesting, the execution from script to screen just didn't work out all that well. This wasn't your average zombie movie, by any means, for better or worse. Writer and director Kome Kongkiat Komesiri took a gamble and opted to have zombies with memories and limited speech functions, and it just didn't tickle my interest. And it became a struggle to sit through the movie.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, which was something that spoke in favor of the movie. But the storyline just stood no chance, despite the fact that the acting performances in the movie were fair enough.

The special effects in the movie were also good, but again hardly mattered much as the storyline just brutally cut it short. Why would the eyes of the infected Thai people turn two different colors? That I just simply couldn't understand. It made zero sense.

"Operation Undead" was a disappointment to say the least, and it is not a movie that I was entertained by. Nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. If you are a zombie fan, check out writer and director Kome Kongkiat Komesiri's movie, you might just find some enjoyment here, despite me not doing so.

My rating of "Operation Undead" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.

I watched this with high expectations but it all become boring the zombies have feelings they talk to each other they even gather up to plot a plan on a takedown. I couldn't be making this up surely but yes its true.. zombies normally are fast or slow and look crazy and want to eat ya'll .. not cry moan and have vision on family pass and talk to each other like its a night out on the town... the gore scenes are 10/10 with some good camera shots ........ the quality was 10/10 the acting was 10/10 effects were 10/10 the zombies were 10/10.. what let this down was the actual length and zombies talking and it became boring to watch.. i say watch it for yourself and some may enjoy it but for me once was enough i love zombie and apocalyptic movies but this isnt going to be one i watch again and ive watch many over and over again ... i gave the rating a 5/10 thats for being nice but give it a go.

With the backdrop of World War II, the plot explores the historical fiction of Thailand's involvement in the war conflict and how the Japanese-engineered chemical weapon outbreaks, as well as how the Japanese military experiments on Thai soldiers.

The pace is rather uneven at times, where intense actions are suddenly interchanged with slow moments.

Unlike any typical mindless zombies, in this movie, the zombies retain a degree of consciousness and emotional depth, where they can communicate among themselves. This could be unacceptable to some audiences!

In terms of character development, only Mek and Mok (the two brothers) are well-developed, while the other supporting characters lack depth and growth, making it less impactful even though they are killed.

In general, this movie critiques the brutality of war that tears families apart. It also focuses very much on family bonds and the relationship between the two brothers, Mek and Mok. For instance, even in their zombie state, they strive to protect their family and loved ones. In short, the movie's emotional weight mainly comes from the strong family ties.

In summary, the movie offers a new and daring perspective on the zombie genre, infusing with humanity, social commentary, and emotional complexity. Oh ya, there is an end-credit, so remember to stay back for it!