The Horror of Dead Set Episode 1: Review

From the United Kingdom comes a five part television mini series that involves a zombie apocalypse on the show "Big Brother." Running just over three hours this entertaining little gem "Dead Set," is now coming to DVD in 2009. Dishing out the gore and chills the film is sure to upset the appetites of most viewers. A review of episode one of five past the cast details.

Release Date: Octorber 27, 2008.

Rating: Restricted/Mature.

Director/Creator: Charlie Brooker.

Writer: Ailsa Lawson.

Cast: Chizzy Akudolu, Shelley Conn, Raj Ghatak, Jennifer Aries, Cavan Clerkin, Drew Edwards, Elyes Gabel, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, and Madra Ihegborow.

Beginning with bright lights and cosmetic smiles "Dead Set," clips along at a breath taking pace while introducing a host of characters in the first episode. While taping a United Kingdom version of "Big Brother," a virus breaks out involving military research and soon the whole city and crew for the show become the living dead. The cast of the "Big Brother," television series are completely unaware of the chaos outside and soon there are very few crew members left alive to tell them. Not skimping on the action or gore this television series goes straight for the jugular as half the cast dies in the first twenty minutes.

Contrasting the calmness of life in the "Bio-dome," to that of the studio, lighting, music, and tone shift while characters look to survive a biological catastrophe. The characterization of Patrick (Andy Nyman) as an order giving, nicorette popping, adrenalin junkie is one of the best in the series and this character generates most of the laughs despite the grisly theme of the show. The darkly lit movie studios with flashing monitors and red strobing lights create for a realistic environment and the office dynamics, including sexual relationships start off early in the series. The cast members inside the reality show follow along shallow stereotypical roles as the drag queen, who is very bitchy fights with other cast members in the show over menial subjects like eggs. Totally believable these narcissistic characterizations are given emphasis with cheesy reality show music that shifts into darker tones later in the film.

Office gopher Kelly (Jaime Winstone) is central to episode one as the story follows this character from room room to room and body to body. The use of blood in episode one is liberal as Kelly and other surviving characters hide out in the studio looking for rescue. Kelly makes her way to the "Bio-dome," and informs the actors of their situation while blood covers her from head to toe and the movie studio walls. Unbelieving at first this very egotistical group very slowly clues in to the situation, but by now another character has become contagious. One last action sequence ends the show with a frightening shock.

Ending sharply episode one is action packed with an interesting story that will entertain horror film fans. Creating a few plot holes early on and include; no hint to the source of infection, and how certain characters fare, in the chaos of the situation, but the flaws do not detract from a quickly moving story. Under one hour "Dead Set," episode one could have been slightly longer to develop characters more fully. However, likely due to budget constraints, pressure from advertisers and the formulaic one hour approach to television shows this episode ends a little early. This first episode kicks off the series with a bang; yet, the short runtime might leave viewer's wanting a little more breadth.

Full of scary scenes, with believable make-up, and story development "Dead Set," is possibly one of the best horror television series to hit the airwaves. Holding very little back director and creator of the television series, Charlie Brooker goes the full distance to tell a tale of death, destruction, and love around the fictional "Big Brother," studios. See the full "Dead Set," series on DVD in the N. American area by purchasing online or watch the series through Video-On-Demand.

A trailer for "Dead Set," episode one here:



Sources

Dead Set at IMDB

Dead Set Homepage

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