Directed By: John McPhail
Written By: Alan MacDonald & Ryan McHenry
Cinematography: Sara Deane
Editor: Mark Hermida
Cast: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux, Marli Siu, Ben Wiggins, Mark Benton, Paul Kaye, Ella Jarvis
When the zombie apocalypse hits the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - teenager Anna and her high school friends have to fight, sing and dance to survive, with the undead horde all around them. Teaming up with her best friend John, Anna has to fight her way through zombified snowmen, Santas, elves and Christmas shoppers to get across town to the high school, where they'll be safe. But they soon discover that being a teenager is just as difficult as staying alive, even at the end of the world.
The title gives it away but one still expects more of a lighthearted romp. As this is a horror-musical- comedy that get more serious and darker the longer it plays.
As again it starts off very simple and cute. Where it feels pretty typical. Then once it changes feels that way, but the deeper the characters go on their journey into the story the more serious it becomes
It honestly feels like a small fringe stage musical that has been stretched out and opened up more into a film. That fills and feels like many different genres.
The practical special effects and make-up are impressive. It helps to make the film feel more personal and gritty while having a kind of fantasy gloss. It also helps the characters feel more real even as they fill more cinematic character creation cliches.
The musical elements are simple that are fun and revealing and involve choreography as well as fight choreography not always on beat. That element might draw more viewers to it and make it seem more experimental in nature and gain more of a cult status.
The songs are catchy and repeatable though like the film they seem to lack a certain impact.
As this is a smaller project that involves plenty of zombie film cliches and references as well as teen film ones also. Though tries to twist some of the expectations. That offers some shocks.
The film gets a little cartoonish and silly at times which you expect. For instance during one musical number they run back and forth like they at in a Scooby-Doo cartoon.
It ultimately achieves what zombie films rarely do these Days. As we are so desensitized to them. It actually elicits emotions from the audience. As even in the closing moments it goes for the jugular of seeing the aftermath of everything including some characters. Which also might be from the musical elements. As usually musicals try to elicit an emotion out of the audience usually happiness but sets up an emotional connection. Here it is more a sadness like a European musical or LA LA LAND. As it hits all the emotional moments late.
Though even with the title of the film you might find yourself a little shocked at how downtrodden and fatalistic the film can be
Grade: C+
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