Undead [2003]

December 23, 2009

Starting with a bang, Undead is a charming B zombie movie that’s coming to us from Australia. They keep their horror movies fresh in the Land Down Under. Just check out Rogue or Wolf Creek if want more proof. So, after a meteor shower, people who were close to the impact points start behaving strangely. And you know what comes next. Blood, mayhem, and surprisingly, lots of humor. Undead also features excellent character development. Add to this that thick and adorable Australian accent and you got yourself a winner.

What’s clear from the start is that this is a passion project. It was funded by the Spierig brothers and their families, showing what can you do if you really want to do something. I love supporting indie horror movies like this and especially if they’re genuinely good as this one is. Gleefully full of blood fountains, severed limbs, and other gory details, it feels like a bloody homage to the zombie movies of the old. And while Undead is a horror comedy that offers nothing new, it will certainly satisfy all you zombie movie fans out there.

I have to admit there are some issues with the tone and overall atmosphere of the movie. It’s like it can’t make up its mind is it a splatter parody like some of Peter Jackson’s early movies (Bad Taste, BrainDead), straightforward horror, or a quirky horror comedy? At least the dialogue felt authentic and it helped with these issues immensely. The same can be said about the small town setting, only this time we’re not in the familiar North American countryside but Australian outback.

Welcome to the small town of Berkeley, Australia. Its inhabitants are going about their daily lives not knowing that in just a few hours everything will change. Meteors will start falling from the sky, killing and wounding people. However, that’s not the worst part of it as those who were in the vicinity of the crash sites will soon get the craving. The craving for human flesh.

You might think you’re cool but you’re certainly not cooler than a man wielding a triple shotgun. If you’re wondering what a triple shotgun looks like and why you don’t have it, you will have to watch this movie to find out. I’m not going to tell you. And you won’t find any info on that even on the Forgotten Weapons YouTube channel.

Full of cool gimmicks and shots, Undead is a sign of great things to come when it comes to the Spierig brothers. Their next movie is Daybreakers, be sure to check it out when it comes out. Enjoy.