A group of soldiers in WWII wind up stranded in a village after their D-Day arrival is sabotaged, leaving them cut off from help deep in Nazi territory and inadvertently leading them to stumbling upon a secret lab of dastardly design.
Nazi zombies are a thing. I don’t know how they became a thing, let alone why, but they are. And the world is a better place because of them. Getting to take out aggression and anger on Nazis is always welcome. And one of the best experiences with living it vicariously is Overlord. Originally created as a prequel to the Cloverfield films, Overlord instead developed into its own monster, and while the connection is still there if you look for it, it benefits largely from being a unique standalone experience. Blending genres of science fiction, war, action, and horror, with wonderful finesse, the film is very distinct and different, and features some truly phenomenal elements that deserve high praise.
But, it’s a JJ Abrams film. Of course it deserves high praise. Directed by Julius Avery with a lens that highlights the war elements, Overlord is given a completely standout stylization that feels like someone found a way to blend Saving Private Ryan with 28 Days Later. It has a lot to say, too, and not just the old “war is bad” adage, either. It makes a statement about diversity and religious discrimination against a backdrop of a different time. Brought to life from a fantastic script by Billy Ray and Mark L. Smith, the storyline never sags or slows, instead starting out with a gut punch and keeping that momentum all the way to the end, developing an extremely likeable cast of characters along the way.
And no one is more likeable than Jovan Adepo’s Boyce. Giving us a relatable and endearing lead, Adepo’s performance is the glue the film needs to work as well as it does. But he’s got some pretty stellar backup, too. Wyatt Russell is incredible as always, taking after his dad in his ability to craft a character you don’t want to like, but just can’t help yourself. John Magaro is a real standout here, too, from his days before he was a reliable indie leading man. One of the most underrated actors out there, if you ask me. And let’s not forget Mathilde Ollivier, who manages to make it look easy being the only female character in a massive cast of men, and quickly became my favorite character in the entire film.
But none of this would matter without those absolutely amazing special effects. Not just the zombified creatures, but the spectacular opening sequence is one of the best depictions of war from the perspective of the soldier that I’ve ever seen committed to film. Joined together with phenomenal cinematography by Laurie Rose and Fabian Wagner, which brings a deep richness to this war torn world, and a moving and thrilling score by Jed Kurzel, it’s a wonderful culmination of tons of talent.
While Overlord wasn’t successful at the box office, it deserves a second chance, and even cult status. It’s unique, thrilling, and really spectacular all around.