Released: 2009
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Rated: R (UK – 15)
“Nut up or shut up.”
Looking for tips and tricks for surviving the zombie apocalypse? Look no further. I have the movie for you!
Zombieland, the zombie-infested America, is one dangerous place, but “Columbus” (Jesse Eisenberg; Adventureland, The Social Network) has surviving down to a science; well, a list. The main character, referred to as “Columbus” a nickname given based on his hometown, is a shy college student trying to get back to his family. He credits his survival to his straightforward survival tips which he shares throughout the film. Along the way, he teams up with a rough, trigger-happy guy from Florida called “Tallahassee” (Woody Harrelson; The People vs. Larry Flint, The Messenger), who is on a mission to find a Twinkie. Yes, a Twinkie. The Hostess snack.
These two opposites meet up with a young woman “Wichita” (Emma Stone; La La Land, Birdman) and young girl “Little Rock” (Abigail Breslin; Nim’s Island, Little Miss Sunshine) who are on their way to an amusement park which they hope will be line-free and zombie-free. The two ladies throw the men through a whirlwind of trouble before truly letting their guard down. In the end, it is their unlikely friendship that not only saves the day but has Columbus adding a few edits to his list.
Zombieland is my all time favorite zombie film. The cast is incredibly talented and the script is hilarious. Columbus is the perfect portrayal of an average college nerd with tons of quirks and phobias who somehow has found a way to survive the apocalypse. When we think of who could truly survive a zombie outbreak this description is not what comes to mind. But through him, we get to feel that maybe we would have a chance at survival too if this situation should ever arise.
The character Tallahassee on the other hand totally fits in. Even the two young women, with their tricks and cons, seem more than likely to make it through the outbreak. One of my favorite things about the characters is how they are referred to as just their hometowns. Names aren’t really important during the apocalypse. Even Columbus’s neighbor in college is referred to as 406, her room number, further emphasizing that names no longer matter. Who you were before the outbreak is not who you are now.
It is about two months into the outbreak and the zombies are still looking fresh and gory. Zombieland zombies love to spew blood from their mouths and are very “realistic”. They are infected with a virus that drives them mad and this definitely reflected in their attacks. The zombies feast on the living leaving blood and gore behind. The way they run and move is both believable and creepy. The makeup isn’t overdone and none of what they are wearing looks like a costume. They look as real as zombies can be.
On that note, there is a ton of great action and zombie killing. Tallahassee loves to get creative and has a large selection of weapons he uses. The killings are brutal and satisfying especially when Columbus and Tallahassee team up. They are a hilarious duo and really deliver some of the best comedic lines.
The group makes a lot of wonderful stops on their journey such as a grocery store, Native American gift shop, and even a celebrity home in LA. All of the locations are fun and add such great details to the story. We learn more about the characters as they begin to bond with one another and feel for their losses and struggles.
Without being too deep or serious the viewers, along with Columbus, really begin to question whether it is easier to be alone or to have help from friends. Not only during the apocalypse but in everyday living. In the end, Zombieland turns out to be a comedy, horror film, and feel-good movie all in one. That is what I like about it most. It’s not just blood, gore, and brains. It also has a whole lot of heart.
Rating:
Ella Fiore:
This film is a simple staple for every zombie lover or for preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Educational, funny, and satisfying!
Thomas C:
Zombieland had the great fortune to arrive exactly at the right time. Throughout the later years of the nineties and well into the tens of the new millennium, zombie-fever crept across the world after Dawn of the Dead. During this time, the zombie-related media that took itself seriously was in every tv show and cinema slot available. Zombieland was a breath of fresh air into the rotting corpse (pun intended) of the over-saturated genre by showing a zombie apocalypse that was largely believable. Fun and humor hadn’t left the world when the zombies came and Zombieland uses it to great effect throughout the film. A totally fresh film worth watching by anyone, not just horror fans.
Jack Savage:
Zombieland sets the bar high for future horror-comedies and zombie films alike. Its a great blend of horror, humor, gore, and character development. Add to that a great soundtrack and special effects that blend make-up, practical, and C.G.I. in the way they should be mixed and you get a phenomenal film. I never get tired of revisiting Zombieland.
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