Brian's Review - Survival of the Dead

If the living keep making movies like this, the dead really should survive.

Released: 2009
Genre(s): Horror, Action

George A. Romero's groundbreaking zombie apocalypse series has undeniably gotten worse with each new iteration, becoming more of a vehicle for the horror master's tongue-in-cheek social commentaries than a true scare fest. Unfortunately, this well-worn premise begins to really show its age quite noticeably in Romero's most recent attempt, "Survival of the Dead," cutting loose from any serious thematic elements and just losing itself to the predictable horror-action template that pumps out droves of immediately-forgettable movies each year. There's almost nothing here separating it from low-budget popcorn fodder, despite some rather feeble efforts to infuse subtle commentary regarding the current generation's brainwashed dependency on the internet. Beyond that, "Survival of the Dead" doesn't have much else to offer: the plot hinges on a preposterous Hatfields vs. McCoys-style feud, and much like the infamous conflict, the film feels mostly unnecessary and somewhat stupid. There's enough gun violence to keep action junkies happy, and enough over-the-top CGI gore to appease the more open-minded gorehounds (although there's really nothing extreme or realistic here), especially if they're willing to accept some of it as intentionally-cheesy comedic flourish. While the survivors' main objective is clearly self-preservation, I can't help but feel that there was no real urgency to their journey, and that - despite being in the middle of the end of the civilized world - they weren't in the least bit affected by their predicament. Then again, nothing in the movie feels particularly menacing, with slow, shambling zombies, who seem to attack in much smaller groups than in previous entries to the series, and gunfights breaking out so often that the battles lose any truly threatening impact. Even the main character seems bored with what's happening, unfazed by the multitude of explosions and computer-generated blood splatters emitting from headshot exit wounds. It's unfortunate that despite its prestigious lineage, "Survival of the Dead" operates with only enough creative momentum to generate yawns and zombie-like states of indifference. Unless you get some morbid satisfaction from seeing a Romero release limp along with other contemporary bargain-bin slop, I suggest finding another undead offering to get your zombie fix.

Rating (out of 5): 2