“The Grove” is what I’d think of as the “Of Mice and Men” version of “The Walking Dead.” It’s a twisted tale of a beast without knowledge of how to survive in the world, and the inevitability that they’ll be a danger to themselves and everyone around them. Easily the most disturbing episode of the series yet, “The Grove” begins on a very eerie and absolutely surreal note that’s both cryptic and terrifying. Are we watching a dream? A flashback? A fever delusion? A memory? Or perhaps the life of someone who owned a sweet house in a grove once upon a time? One of the interesting ideas presented behind “The Grove” is the idea that perhaps Sophia died simply because she just didn’t see what was before her. Maybe Sophia didn’t view the walkers as a threat, or just didn’t view them as monsters when all was said and done.
Tag Archives: zombie apocalypse
Reel Zombies (2008): Special Edition (DVD)
Many zombie fans will be quick to compare David J. Francis and Mike Masters’ mock documentary set amidst the zombie apocalypse to “Diary of the Dead.” Truth be told, I was prepared to consider it a knock off during the first twenty minutes, but that would be a disservice to “Reel Zombies.” Directors Francis and Masters don’t offer any pretension about their film and are pretty straight forward in its premise and how they’re not even remotely trying to offer social commentary. There’s no message about racism, or sexuality, or the government, it’s just a straight forward horror comedy. “Reel Zombies” won’t be accused of re-inventing the wheel, but even with its flaws, it’s a damn good horror comedy.
The Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 9: After
As much as I adore “The Walking Dead,” it’s always so much better when it focuses on silence and quiet dread. Scenes of Carl walking through a deserted suburb, or Michonne walking camouflaged within a herd are some of the most uneasy moments of the new episode. Much to my surprise, the series has been veering much closer to the comic books than it has been for the last four years, and it’s borrowed some of the best and most compelling story lines involving the aftermath of the prison invasion. There are a lot of callbacks to the first season. There’s a mention of Shane teaching Carl to tie knots, there’s a top down zoom in of a military tank like the final scene of the pilot, and now Rick and Carl have holed up in a house together exactly like Morgan and Duane did in the pilot.
The PC Thug: You Can’t Keep a Good Zombie Down
Okay, so I know not everyone enjoyed “Land of the Dead.”
Many people I spoke to during the time of its release seemed to hate it, though I persisted in my thoughts that it would eventually gain appreciation, much like “Day of the Dead” eventually did. I fondly remember many people telling me that “Day of the Dead” was a terrible film back in the early nineties, and now it’s considered a classic. Even director George Romero considers it his favorite.
The First Wave (2014)
Director David Frayne’s “The First Wave” is intended as a prologue for a now in the works feature film. And from what I’ve seen in the entire six minutes of this short introduction, the feature film version of “The First Wave” promises to be quite an incredible twist on the zombie sub-genre.After a massive epidemic of flesh eating zombies plagues the city and families are consumed, science has finally found a way to cure the epidemic. Now once walking dead cannibals are turning up in hospitals cured, as doctors anxiously try to move forward and maintain the steady rise of recuperated monsters.
Stalled (2013)
Director Christian James’ “Stalled” is a very creative, and often clever horror comedy that takes the zombie movie to a new direction. It tries, at least. “Stalled” really seems to have a grasp on its premise for the first forty minutes, and then scrambles to keep monotony from setting in the rest of the way. In spite of that, “Stalled” is a creepy, interesting, and very unique zombie horror comedy that takes a few notes from “Shaun of the Dead.” It’s a horror movie about a perpetual loser who gets his life together in the wake of a bona fide zombie apocalypse. But it tries to add its own twists to the conventions, which make for a good experience.
Juan of the Dead (2011)
“Juan of the Dead” is a silly and occasionally creepy zombie movie, but one that also dares to have a brain and display some very volatile commentary about the state of Cuba, and the inherent poverty that runs rampant. Though Juan lives in poverty and is mostly considered a loser by most in his neighborhood, he’s managed to carve out a comfortable existence for himself, and is something of a saving grace for neighbors. After Juan and his friend Lazaro come across a rotted corpse while fishing that attempts to bite them, they kill it and then decide never to talk about it again. What’s funny is that most of the situations may seem like a warning sign to most, but director Brugués comments on the state of Cuba through it.