Zombie Doomsday

Review from Horroryearbook.com

http://www.horroryearbook.com/5417167/dvd-review-zombie-doomsday

Imagine I called you today and said "I've got an idea for a movie. It has no script, we have two weeks of pre-production and we'll shoot the whole thing in 24 hours." Now imagine you went along with it. That was how director Tom Townsend pitched Zombie Doomsday. A horror film shot in one day at one location with all the dialogue being improvisational. We are left with a one of a kind film that should stand as one of the indie greats.

Chad Worthington is a former movie star that has been reduced to shooting a reality show pilot where he visits his hometown and shows America his humble beginnings. He brings his airhead girlfriend Tiffany to see his first job, a sports bar called "The Ballpark". He starts talking with the townspeople and within moments of arriving gets his ass kicked by a biker, chewed out by his ex and told he isn't recognized by practically anyone in the restaurant. After he berates the help and the patrons, the eatery is robbed at gunpoint. The assailants instruct them all to get into the freezer and, as the wait to be released, experience an earthquake that (literally) wakes the dead. Now they all have to come up with a plan for survival, or die trying.

This movie did with about $100 what most horror movies cannot do with $100 million: make a great film. While the majority of the characters don't even have names that are uttered on screen, you feel a connection with all of them. The actors are making things up as they go along, passing a baton to their costars and hoping that they are carried through the scene. And it works, plain and simple. ZD is light on the blood and gore factor, but trust me, you don't miss it. It almost feels like a documentary of things that have actually taken place, thanks to the help of the gifted actors and actresses.

What's more fascinating is the feature lenght documentary that comes with the movie. Titled "Another Zombie Flick", it shows everything that went into the movie through cast and crew interviews. Some of the cast was pulled out of the crew in order to fill gaps left by no shows. Cast members went onto the set only knowing what they were bringing to the table and the basic plot.

I will say that being in close quarters on the set puts the audio at a slight disadvantage. Some of the actors reactions, real and improv, we so loud that it is hard to hear the reactions of others, even carrying into some of the dialogue. The character of Chad Worthington almost became a caricature so to speak of everything one can hate about a character on screen. He was over the top in some respects, but after the zombies come to play, we are treated to more of an ensemble piece, so you tend to forgive and forget with the character.

A charming, witty and scary film is difficult to come by in mainstream horror today. Yet Zombie Doomsday proves that an unconventional concept to achieve incredible results.

(Review from www.zombiesdontrun.net)

The Movie Chad Worthington is a big time movie star, or at least he was. Now a little down on his luck, Chad, finds himself filming a reality show in his old hometown in an attempt to make a comeback. This leads the production team, Chad, and his girlfriend (who may or may not be a porn star) into the old restaurant where Chad use to work. Needless to say Chad isn't as welcomed back in his old stomping grounds as you'd expect, but on top of that the situation gets even worse when zombies crash the homecoming.

This film is done from a p.o.v. standpoint. So it's sorta like REC and all those other first person point of view films, BUT I think this films pulls it off in a far more realistic manner than most of what you see out there today, and that helps A LOT. When you watch it's hard not to get caught up in what is happening before you on the screen. And when the crap hits the fan I even found myself getting anxiety from what I was seeing as you just get so caught up in it all that you almost feel that what is happening to them is happening to you. Honest to goodness, no lie, I felt like I was stuck in the restaurant with these people and when panic strikes and everyone is yelling and in a panic (a very real reaction) it makes you feel just as stressed and every other emotion that the people you are watching are feeling.

The improve of the actors is another thing this movie uses that while not the norm for full length film making, comes across natural and works great to make things seem real. The cast is full of indie stars and prior to this I had only seen one of the actors before, and that was Tracy Teague who I had seen in a film called Respire. I think Tracy is having a very good year so far to say the least. From her being the gum chewing smart-a**ed waitress, to the a-hole that is Chad Worthington (Ron Bush), to the cook, to the girlfriend, to just everyone, they are all SPOT on with how they need to be to pull this off. I also found the story to be interesting and never once felt bored with what I was watching.

If I was forced to list what I felt kept this film from being perfect, I'd have to say only two things held it back. One was the fact they are lacking in gore (understandable due to budget and time), and I'd also think the ending is a little run of the mill (it's hard to end first person point of view films). But besides that I'd say everyone involved hits a home run with this and deserve just due and credit for making one of the most unique and creative films I've seen in YEARS. If you like creativity, if you like zombies, and if you like seeing something that hasn't already been done to death, then you NEED to see this movie.

The Conclusion I must insist that you all check out the official site for this film and help support the amazing job these folks do here by picking up a copy of this. It lacks all the shiny objects and explosions of a big budget film, but it does the one thing that many films can't seem to do and that's make everything seem legit and real. I've seen it all, so if something I'm watching makes my nerves get on edge and me feel anxiety from it then you KNOW it's good stuff.

The Rating (7.5/10)

If your idea of a terrific movie experience is watching people standing around all shouting at each other at the top of their voices, then this is the movie for you. Add implausible reactions, one dimensional characters and an incoherent plot, and those who feel that the convention of having writers and a script is an unnecessary indulgence will feel equally well catered for.