Dead Men Walking

Ever since the release of the highly overrated '28 Days Later', there's been a steady stream of low budget zombie movies being released; and I've been disappointed with most of them. The reason for this, mostly, is that the vast majority have too much humour about them, and although it is difficult to take a movie about the dead returning to life and feasting on the living seriously; things such as dancing zombies are, quite frankly, lame. It was a relief, then, that this film takes itself seriously; and the result is a gory, and loving tribute to the classic zombie films made by genre-icon George A. Romero. It's Day of the Dead that is this film's main focus, but tributes to the other films in the series shine through; as well as a few nods to other genre classics. The plot follows a zombie outbreak, which ends up in a prison after the sole survivor is arresting while trying to dispatch his friends who ended up catching the virus. The prison is maximum security, and this proves a big problem for the guards who become the hunted after their prisoners succumb to the deadly virus.

Before seeing this film, I thought that the prison setting may hinder the movie; but actually, it's definitely an advantage. The closed setting allow the film to present a constantly foreboding atmosphere, as we know that the characters are trapped with the living dead; and it also means that the movie doesn't spoil itself by trying to be too clever. Gore is present by the bucket load, which is sure to please zombie fans; but the action itself is a bit of a turn off as it happens mostly in slow motion. The first half of the film sees the plot build, and while it's not exactly deep; Dead Men Walking sets itself up nicely, and in true Day of the Dead style; the climax is full on action and gore. There's a little too much intestine ripping (I didn't hear the words "Choke on 'em!", though), but mostly the gut-munching is pleasing to the eye. Dead Men Walking looks and feels like it's been made for TV, which is a bit of a shame as either better production values, or a more low budget style would have served it better - but on the whole, I'd definitely take this film over most of the recent zombie flicks without a second thought.

The DVD cover art somewhat suggests a Dawn of the Dead type story.

So if you look at the cover art and are somewhat interested in checking it out... go ahead. I'm not a fan of over the top, low budget gore, but this is one of those films that makes fans of horror wish they could get some kind of budget to make a movie with their friends.

Surprisingly creepy.

The plot is the standard infection loosed in a maximum security prison.

In a bare bones prison environment Dark, frenetic, fast motion scenes when zombies attack, and (I have to admit) pretty gruesome dismemberment scenes.

The Romero movies seem kind of sanitized compared to this.

So in a nutshell, if you like zombie horror movies and you pick this up and have to think "Should I take a chance"?, go ahead.

Sissy.

I read all the reviews here...went into the watching of this film with the knowledge that, yes, it's low budget...yes, the actors are virtually unknown...yes, it's a B Horror Gore Fest. I was expecting the worst. (Great DVD Cover, by the way.) Despite all of that, this film is not a total train wreck. I even enjoyed it. The story line is pretty clear...straight forward. The special effects are very effective, gore, blood-vomiting and gut-eating at all the right spots. If you are a true fan of that sort of thing...this film delivers.

I've watched many badly made films and usually, when they are total train wrecks, you can't get past a certain point in the film. Eventually, you just stop watching or eject the DVD. That never happened with this one. It piqued my interest from beginning to end. I wanted to see what was going to happen next. Yes, the acting wasn't first rate, but it was good enough to move the film along nicely.

My biggest complaint is the lighting. It was too dark, too often. They used a very greenish filter on most of the scenes and sometimes it was distracting. When you notice the lighting effects too much...it can't be good. Also, the warden's young son wasn't as believable as he could have been. When their are limb-ripping, blood-covered, shrieking zombies running in every direction...you expect fear in a little kid. Instead, he mostly just stands there, looking like he was waiting for direction from the director.

So, I went in expecting the worst...and came away with an entertaining 80-something minutes. I liked it despite the flaws.

I would also like to say that I rented two films last night: This one...and The Da Vinci Code. I couldn't make it through the Da Vinci Code. This one had me entertained through the entire film. Kudos to the filmmakers. Keep pumping out these gore-fests. The fans are waiting. ;)

On the continuum of low budget zombie films marketed direct to video during the time frame that this was released, it is ahead of the pack. The premise works and moves the zombie theme into a new environment nicely. The film has a nice atmosphere and truly has good acting. The makeup and effects will satisfy even the most decerning zombie film conesure. Where most direct to video zombie films couldn't even get an audience to sit through them, much less get a screening at even the most remote film festival, this film would more than likely draw a crowd and have gotten good reviews. It isn't of the kind of quality that would have justified a theatrical release, but it is at the high end of video releases in it's genre.

Zombie film fans will enjoy this one...

After killing four persons in his home with a shotgun, Dee Travis (Brandon Stacy) claims that he had accidentally ingested an experimental biotoxin that the company Blackthorn where he worked was researching. Travis is sent visibly ill to the Harwood Maximum Security Prison and the Security Officer Sweeny (Chriss Anglin) sends the inmate to the infirmary. Meanwhile the CDC Agent Samantha Beckett (Bay Bruner) comes to the prison to interview Travis and is received by Warden Mahler (Bobby James). While they are having a conversation, they are informed that Travis has been transferred to the solitary confinement and his infected blood has caused an outbreak among the prisoners and guards. Samantha calls the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the responsible advises the warden that the prison is in quarantine.

The gore "Dead Men Walking" is a zombie movie underrated in IMDb. I have just watched this low-budget movie with the lowest expectation based on the 3.1 User Rating and in the end I found it a flawed but enjoyable feature. The story has many flaws, like for example, how could Travis be only affected by the virus in the prison? The "shotgun killer" killed four people; then he certainly went to the court for the judgment of his crime. Therefore, months (or even years) have passed until he was sent to prison. Even if he was sent directly to prison to wait for the trial, how long have passed for the manifestation of the effect of the virus? Further, he claimed that he had contaminated his friends and none of them was sent to an autopsy to prove his words. Samantha tells that they are in quarantine and if anybody including the warden's son leave Harwood, it would be "hell on Earth". However, she spends half the movie trying to escape with Johnny. The FEMA authority tells that the prison is in quarantine. However, there are only two snipes eliminating any escapee instead of the building under siege by the police. The reverend that believes in God committing a capital sin with his suicide is also weird. I could list many other flaws in the story, but these examples are the worst. Another bad point is the cinematography, too dark and greenish and the camera work with unusual angles and edition. Last but not the least, there are many bad acting among the unknown cast. There are stupid lines but there are some very witty and funny. The good points are the gruesome make-up and special effects that do not spare children. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Os Mortos Estão Vivos" ("The Dead Are Alive")