Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Michael Allen
Writers: Keith Allan and Delondra Williams.
Cast: Mariel Hemingway, Chad Lindberg, LeVar Burton, Heather Hemmens and Danny Trejo.
Rise of the Zombies had such a great title, but so little substance. This film aired on the SyFy Network Saturday, October 27th and Rise of the Zombies is big on laughter but light on thrills. This viewer laughed at all of the forced sentimentality and at all of the predictable situations until the film threatened a sequel. Then, this viewer's mood became more serious and angrier. Please do not let this film see a sequel! Director Nick Lyon's (Zombie Apocalypse) latest flesh eating film is just too full of one shot takes, CGI backgrounds and pointless meanderings from the characters to recommend even to fans of the campy.
The story, such as it is, follows several survivors of a zombie apocalypse on Alcatraz Island. In San Francisco, a virus has been released into the city's water supply turning the locals into the undead. A scientist (LeVar Burton) is busily working on a vaccine, or a cure until this famous prison is overrun by walkers. Then, it is all down hill from here. The remaining survivors track the plague back to a water treatment centre. Another scientist is busily working on a similar vaccine until the treatment plant is overrun as well. Cue the credits, please.
The pace is all: "go, go go!" but the film comes across as cheesy. Characters, who have barely been introduced, are gushing over lost loved ones. Then, these minor characters are offed two or three scenes down the road. In another shot, a character on the periphery loses their sister in the waters around Alcatraz. This viewer could not even see who went overboard thanks to a poor night shoot. So, the overuse of emotion afterwards seems strange. Then, there is more sappy dialogue and this reviewer howled at the artificialness of it all. It is obvious what writers Keith Allan and Delondra Williams are trying to accomplish, they want to flesh out their characters. However, eighty minutes provides very little time for the characters to be developed here. The sentimental scenes prove awkward, overall.
This film is also cheaply made. The Asylum is a production company that is known for making films for well under 500K. This film's budget is nowhere near that. The cheapness of the film is seen in CGI composed backdrops and settings. Characters flub their lines and many of the scenes seem as if they were shot one time only. Mistakes appear everywhere and the production seems sloppy overall.
The Asylum is also known to produce films in short periods of time. Many of their productions are shot in under two weeks. This gives filmmakers very little time to set up scenes and develop production competently. This film is another rushed product from The Asylum.
Rise of the Zombies is a b-movie film at best. A divergent storyline is well done. Yet, characters are introduced and then outroduced to create for zombie fodder. There is no opportunity to root for characters. They are dead before you know it. Themes of religion versus science are covered in three to four lines. If you cannot cover a theme adequately, then drop it. And, the outcomes of certain plotlines are developed predictably. Did you really think that the first scientist was going to find a vaccine? His scenes were numbered as the main group of survivors moved the central story forward. Overall, this is a very average film that will only entertain the most die-hard zombie film fans.
Rise of the Zombies will likely return from the grave on the SyFy Network once again on a future date and fans might be wary of spending their time with this title. There is too much campiness in this production to create for very many exciting moments. And, the cheapness of sets breaks the illusion of believability. This title is hampered by too many small issues, which act like a thousand cuts. The film is already falling off its feet before the final credits roll.
Overall: 5.5 out of 10 (this title is not able to establish the right horrific tone, minor characters are developed to the exclusion of central characters - this is a strange choice).
*the currents around Alcatraz Island would have ensured that the survivor's raft would never have touched the mainland. Tides in this area draw waters out to sea and not towards San Francisco.
Rise of the Zombies at the SyFy Network (make your own choice):
Rise of the Zombies Trailer at the SyFy Network
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Posted in: 2012,movie review,production,story,synopsis,the asylum,zombie,zombie apocalypse,zombies
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