I thought I’d share with you my favourite zombie film
– if not favourite film, period – Siege of the Dead. I’ve
watched this movie many times and each time I fall in love with it
and its beauty – yes, that’s right, its beauty – a little bit
more. If you’re only into your blood, guts and exploding zombie heads,
it might not be for you, but if you like something a little more
touching and quirky, then I couldn’t recommend it more. I hope you
enjoy my review below.
Horror/Zombies – Starring Michael Fuith, Theo Trebs,
Anka Graczyk. Written by Benjamin Hessler. Directed by Marvin Kren
(2010)
Zombies and love? Marvin Kren’s début film is a
marriage made in Hell …
Michael (Michael Fuith) arrives at the Berlin apartment
of his ex-girlfriend Gabi to return her keys, hoping to rekindle
their relationship. Instead Gabi is missing and Michael finds himself
at the centre of a zombie apocalypse, trapping him in the flat with
young plumber, Harper (Theo Trebs). As the apartment block comes
under siege from zombies, Michael and Harper team up to escape.
The film opens with a forlorn Michael outside Gabi’s
apartment block, practising the incompetent speech he intends to
deliver to her, cut with snap shots of the pair from happier times. A
haunting music score and a shaky hand held camera draw the audience
into Michael’s broken world, even before we see the first zombie.
Muted colours and gloomy, washed out interiors add to the sense of
oppression and create a pleasing art house feel.
Forget the helicopters, explosions, burning cars and
hoards of crazed zombies on the DVD cover, Siege
of the Dead is about as charming as a zombie
film can get. It’s more love story against a backdrop of a zombie
outbreak than Romero-style gorefest. With its focus on relationships,
the film has more in common with television’s The
Walking Dead, and taking this into
consideration, Siege of the Dead
may disappoint some zombie fans. But leave your conventional
expectations behind and enjoy a tale that builds a claustrophobic
world where love and friendship fight for survival.
German with subtitles and a cast of unknowns, this hour
long film won’t have you squirming at the gory bits (there aren’t
that many). But with the fast, foaming at the mouth 28
Days/Weeks
Later ‘rage’ style
zombies, it does have its tense, hold-your-breath moments. Siege
of the Dead is well shot, carefully paced,
superbly acted, neatly written and dares to be different. Not least
for the moments touching on the weird – ‘Do you want the bear
suit?’ is hardly the most trite line in zombie movie history. And
in case you are wondering, don’t ask, just watch.
Rating 5 out of 5
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