Undead (2003)

Synopsis

The town of Berkeley is full of life...until the meteors crash through the towns peoples' chest. An outbreak is taking over and the few left alive must fight to survive the constantly growing horde of the...Undead! 

Thoughts

It's always nice to see a film that doesn't take itself entirely seriously every once in a while, especially in the horror genre. To be even more specific, zombie films. There's nothing wrong with a serious horror film, but it is a nice to see a filmmaker have fun with the genre. Quite possibly the best known horror film to do that was, for me, The Cabin in the Woods. Their is a little gem from Australia that's pretty damn fun too...Undead!

People sometimes tend to not grasp the concept of not taking something seriously, especially with a beloved concept like zombies. So, when I hear someone say they disliked Undead, I'll ask them what they didn't like about it. I usually get one of three answers: 

"The effects were sub par."

"Very campy and cheesy."

And of course...

"The acting was terrible."

Sure, Undead is guilty of all three of these, but what these viewers didn't realize was that those were intentional. Well, or maybe they just don't like any movie they watch to have any of those "issues". Still, they're what make this movie so fun and enjoyable to watch. There's a scene where a guy is punching zombie fish and I'm not talking some eight foot tuna shark, just some twelve inch bass. Oh, and I can't forget the Max Payne/The Matrix style action attempts. 

This original, offbeat Australian horror film is a true delight. The music throughout is definitely something to be noted. It adds to the overall campy feel to it. No, it's not comparable to something as powerful from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ventures lately, but it does a damn good job adding to the film. 

To take a lot of concepts and combine them into one is a pretty bold move I think. It paid off for the Spierig Brothers though. You get a zombie outbreak, magical rain and somewhat of an alien invasion. For 2003, and even today, it's a great B rated horror film you shouldn't miss out on. The make-up and effects are really great. Buckets of blood and guts. Think Dead Alive, aka Braindead, with how they used all the blood. You know, over the top, a bit much, but entertaining. It's just a fun thrill ride of a film. Yeah, I'll admit that the trailer was a little misleading when I eventually saw the film, but I'm kind of glad it was because I didn't really expect aliens. OK, maybe a little because of the meteors, but it was still a nice surprise. 

If you are a fan of horror and science fiction and definitely love when these two genres come together, add Undead to your collection. 

IMDB: 5.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 4.4/10

WeFLM: 8/10

Come for the dismembered talent agent. Stay for the zombie fish.

-kp