Monday, April 16, 2012
Michael Allen
Director: Brian T. Jaynes.
Writers: Brian T. Jaynes, and Devan Sagliani.
Cast: Dora Madison Burge, Melissa Carnell and Frederic Doss
Humans Versus Zombies is a film based on a role playing game played on college campuses. The game involves Nerf guns, marshmallows and zombies chasing survivors. Rumour has it that the survivors have never won. The film version of the game is written and directed by Brian T. Jaynes who is notorious to this reviewer for creating the abysmal and 28DLA Worst Film entry Boggy Creek. Jaynes seems to be making improvements in his photography here; however, his storytelling still lacks tension and the story for Humans Versus Zombies is uncompelling. Maybe viewers would be best off playing the game rather than watching the film.
The story is simple enough. Several college students play Humans Versus Zombies on their college campus. Then, after the H1N1 is released, they get to play the game in real life. Armed with comic book and video game knowledge they make good fodder for the growing zombie hordes. Oh, and there is a developing and awkward love story between the football jock, James (Jesse Ferraro) and the porcupine skinned Tommi (Dora Madison Burge). All the characters are destined for the maw of a zombie sooner or later.
The structure of the story is broken into two parts. The first part lasts until the fourty minute mark. Coincidentally, it is at the fourty minute mark that you will want to start watching this film. The first part is full of short and inconsistent scenes as Jaynes uses jump cuts between scenes. The lack of transitions make the film feel like a 4 x 4 adventure without shocks. Thankfully, the adventure begins to pick up at the halfway mark. Here, scenes are held with more confidence and for longer lengths. There is a stronger attempt to change from scene to scene with some consistency of tone or emotion. Action sequences and choreography also improve in the second half. Yet, some awkward scenes remain as characters act unbelievably or immaturely in a looming zombie apocalypse. Your strategy to fight the hordes is based on a comic book, really? Apparently these are your last scenes then.
And this is the film's overall flaw, believability. A zombie apocalyspe is, of course, based on fiction, to date. This reviewer understands this. The action on the screen does not show real or sincere human actions, however. In the early scenes, the H1N1 escapes a cheap looking college laboratory and what do the scientists do? A murder suicide takes place. Scientists and researchers have a social responsibility to contain the spread of contamination. To off yourself in the face of a biological challenge seems completely ridiculous. Another instance of incredulity involves the campus in which the virus is spreading. There is evidence of infection all over the place as seen in blood stains, drag marks and the emptiness of the college. Hundreds of college students have been contaminated at this point, but there are no zombies about. Halls, exteriors and other locales are completely devoid of life. This is not realistic. There would be pandemonium and chaos all about, not quite calm.
So, the film did not draw this film reviewer in during early scenes. Other film elements also dragged Humans Versus Zombies. down for this critic. The use of music is sporadic and there is a final scene that is tacked on. The tone of hope transitions abruptly to gore when two characters are offed by zombies after a conversation of "what happens next?" Oh man, this is the final sucker punch in a film that just cannot figure out what it actually is or where it wants to go.
Humans Versus Zombies hosted a theatrical premiere in January. There have also been several showings of this movie on Chiller TV and this reviewer would wave you away from this film with big red flags. Don't land here. Otherwise, you might find disappointment waiting for you. If you do decide to sit down for this film, begin at the fourty minute mark. You will not be missing much from Act 1. And then turn off the film two minutes before the end, or you will be exposed to one of the most ridiculous scenes in recent moviemaking history. Humans Versus Zombies just seems better as a game rather than a film.
Overall: 5.75 out of 10 (this is an improvement to Boggy Creek, some drama, characters are cardboardy, acting is so-so).
More on the film is available here:
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Posted in: 2012,brian t. jaynes,game,gameplay,humans versus zombies,independent,movie review,zombie apocalypse,zombie movie review
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