Welcome back to Direct to DVD Dissection. This time out, we take a look at a movie from the mock masters, The Asylum, as we look at 2012: Zombie Apocalypse.
Released December 27th
The Story
After most of the world’s population lay dead or dying, and with undead monsters at every turn, a group of survivors try to make their way to a safe land in Catalina Island. The story follows Ramona, a woman who finds herself meeting up with another group of survivors on their way to the port, with an army of undead between them and rescue.
The Cast
Ving Rhames as Henry, part of the survivors team that bring Ramona and company in to make their way to the docks. Rhames has worked in movies like Pulp Fiction and the Mission Impossible film series, but is no stranger to horror as his work in the Dawn of the Dead remake, as well as the Day of the Dead remake, and Piranha 3D
Taryn Manning as Ramona, the survivor in the care of Henry and company. She was known for playing Nola in Hustle & Flow.
Gary Weeks as Mack, the pseudo leader of the team of survivors. No stranger to movies like this, he’s worked as the lead on another DVD movie, Deadland.
Eddie Steeples as Billy, one of the survivors who was with Ramona when they meet up with the rest of the survivors. He’s best known for being in “My Name is Earl” as Darnell Turner, the busboy from the Crab Shack.
The Dissection
By this point, zombies might seem like old hat to a lot of you. From various video games and TV shows and movies, zombies have been in the pop culture image for a while now. With this, the Asylum adds another title to the growing list of zombie movies. However, Zombie Apocalypse feels less like a standard zombie movie and more like a condensed version of the zombie culture in general.
Henry (Ving Rhames) with his hammer, while Cassie (Lesley Ann-Brandt) mans the shopping cart gun.
While it does folllow the plot, it also focuses on just going on with the zombie theme, at times feeling like a video game. It has the team fighting a horde, some more impressive zombies, and even a final boss of sorts before the end. It could even work as a sort of introduction to the genre, as it mashes all the previous things together to give you a consenved image of everything. It also does a lot of things to set it apart, from the attitude of the survivors to even what they encounter from time to time.
Acting-wise, it is pretty good. Ving Rhames delivers a good performance, working as the big muscle of the movie. As he’s part of the movie during the really crazy and memorable moments, it makes his character stand out more. The female lead, meanwhile, is the old Barbra from Night of the Living Dead role. She works well with it, though she really has no progression over her character. As the survivors include more and more women who either know how to shoot and fight off zombies and wield weapons, someone like her stands out, but still feels like a less interesting character than the rest.
From left to right, Sarah (Anya Monzikova) and Ramona (Taryn Manning). Guess which weapon is more effective?
Production wise, the camera angles are similar to other Asylum movies. Still, the music works well and feels in place with the horror movie situation. As for effects, it’s a bit of step down from some other Asylum movies, like in their “Sherlock Holmes” movie. It’s probably the fact most of the scenes here are at day instead of night. Still, one should be used to it when watching Asylum movies. You won’t think of the effects when you see what are used for. The make up effects are good, though there are moments you can see
Really, when it comes down to it, it’s a movie that you would enjoy with other people around. You can still enjoy it alone, but it is really meant for a big group to watch and enjoy together, to see the reactions they have to what happens on screen. And they will react, cause this is what the movie really goes for.
Sarah and Banks (Lilan Bowden), part of the archers team they meet up with later, and who should have gotten more screen time.
By the way, there is a ton of previews for other Asylum movies. Let me list them and some info on each of them.
- 2 Headed Shark Attack -A shark with 2 heads attacking people. With Brooke Hogan.
- Grimm’s Snow White – A retelling of Snow White in an action setting
- Air Collision – Two planes on a collion course. With Reginald Veljohnson.
- The Amityville Haunting – A demonic possession movie.
- 3 Musketeers – A modern adaptation of the Musketeer legend based in the US.
- A Haunting in Salem – A movie about ghosts in a house.
- Celebrity Sex Tape – A group of teens
- Barely Legal – A group of girls decide to get rid of their virginity.
Special features, though, are lacking. You have a gag reel and a making of, both of them pretty short. Also, no subtitles and only English language available.
The Verdict
It’s a movie that fans of the Asylum will enjoy, and even those who aren’t as familiar with their work should see, with a crowd if possible.
Recommended.