The Undead Symphony

Hot on the heels of Live Escape is Live Survival that takes place literally after the first movie with all the same elements - cops, head/vest cams, not using weapons, contradiction, slow pace stilted dialog.  

There are issues with this one. The story does not progress. The slow moving around a maze like location continues. We gain a total douche canoe in Miguel and a constant screamer nothing burger in Kelly. 

It should have built on the first one but it was far worse and the ending just annoyed me. Don't people lock car doors?

It was a swear rant this one (double figure F bombds). Watch the first one for the concept alone, avoid this. This is poor. It is our lowest scoring movie along with Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies and Another World. 2.5/10 and they should be thankful for that.

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

A new theme on the found footage horror genre, this is supposedly, but clearly not as we get time updates, a real-time footage horror movie. Written by, directed by and starring Joe Lujan as Pete, with Bryant Smith as his partner Jensen, two cops (bad boys bad boys whatcha gonna do?) are called to a homeless shelter after the discovery of a body.

IMDB gave it 2.9 and I can see why, as an average of people who loved it or hated it. I can see what Lujan was trying to do. It was the same idea as those cop reality shows with car, hood, dash, vest and head cams recording the day of a number of law enforcement officials. Here they have headcams as they go into the shelter to discover that it is a maze of pitch black rooms they need to illuminate with their torches.

It is claustrophobic, it is quite a good idea, it is just executed poorly. The homeless shelter looks more like a storeroom for theatre sets. The homeless don't look homeless, they look like regular people. The screamers were good, the eaters, but the cops didn't do what cops would do. They had no non-lethal weapons - taser, pepper spray, night stick, and instead spend all their time walking slowly from dark room to dark room before being discovered and having to run.

There a lot of inconsistencies in the characters, their actions and their logic. I mean, if you have assessed the zombies hunt by sound, why not be quiet? Why shout? 

Anyway, I watched the sequel before I recorded this, and would have scored it less based on the two movies as a pair. For this on it's own I will score it 4.5/10. I think it was an ok watch. A nice idea, poorly executed. If they had been more like cops with their weapons and tactics, and the location had been better, say an old motel, and it has been less repetitive, it would have scored 5.

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

In this episode I watch Return of the Living Dead 2 and 3 for the first time. 

In, ROTLD2, the comedic horror sequel to the 1985 cult classic starring one of my first crushes Linnea Quigley, we follow Jesse, a headstrong little spitfuck of a kid, bullied by Billy and Johnny, and his sister Lucy, but somehow focused on saving the town with the Cable Guy from the hoard of Trioxin zombies.  

It somehow maintains the irreverent tone of its predecessor but it's a campy blend of humor amidst zombie chaos is a distraction, as is Brenda's screaming, and Ed and Joey, who are basically Frank and Freddy from the first movie running through the same screaming rigor mortis schtick as before.  

While lacking the freshness of the original, it compensates with slapstick humor and inventive zombie encounters, not least the awful pet store scene and a mass electrocution.  I did not find it an enjoyable, or groundbreaking, experience and think 4.5/10 is generous.

 Moving on to "Return of the Living Dead 3," released in 1993, this installment takes a darker turn. It explores themes of love and transformation as a teenage romance unfolds amidst the zombie apocalypse that was actually caused by the teens in the first place. Romero, Romero, where for art thou,  Romero? Would a zombie by any other name smell as foul? 

While departing from the series' comedic roots, "Return of the Living Dead 3" distinguishes itself with a unique blend of gross body horror and romance.  It was better than the part 2, but it lacked the very key ingredient of Allan Trautman as Tarman growling "Brains" for me. And I do not do unnecessary body mutilation so it is 5/10 for me.

Together, they form what ChatpGPT describes as "a fascinating evolution within the "Return of the Living Dead" series" whilst I think of it as a downward spiral, or death spiral. And there were two more movies!

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

Welcome to this episode of the Undead Symphony in which we unravel cinematic gems . In the 113th episode, Michael and I dissect the 2000 Japanese zombie flick, "Junk." And it's name is very apt.
 
Whilst it was suggested that we immerse ourselves in a thrilling blend of horror and action as we explore the film's unique take on the undead genre, Michael and I were more disappointed than anything. 

Join us as we delve into the less than captivating narrative, ignore any cultural nuances and pick on the cinematic techniques that the director blatantly stole from Alien, Aliens, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Zombi 2, Renaimator, and Return of the Living Dead. 

We have watched a lot of movies recently and Japan is hit and miss. Wild Zero we liked, One Cut of the Dead too, Zom100 was not good and this was probably the worst of the lot. If it was a salad, created by the writer/director of the classic Ringu, it would have lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pencil shavings, cat food, furniture polish and Skittles. It tried to be one thing but failed by adding a lot of extra shit that wasn't needed.

In the end I wanted to be generous but Michael convinced me that 3.5/10 was a lot more realistic than the IMDB score suggested. This had none of the cult classic feel of Wild Zero, none of the cleverness of One Cut of the Dead, had none of the likeable characters of I am a Hero, but it did have someone annoyingly shouting all the time like Zom100: Bucketlist of the dead. 

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

Join us in this thrilling podcast journey into the world of 'Anna and the Apocalypse.' This unique film seamlessly blends genres, offering a perfect mix of musical, comedy, and zombie apocalypse chaos all set at Christmas and in their final year of school. 

Anna, a high school student, navigates the challenges of teenage life with humor and resilience, but when a zombie outbreak hits her small town during Christmas, she faces an unexpected battle for survival. As the undead hordes rise, Anna and her friends belt out catchy tunes while fighting for their lives. We delve into the film's infectious energy, its heartwarming moments, and the creative fusion that makes 'Anna and the Apocalypse' a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.

Steph from Listeners of the Dead joins Michael and me to love on a movie that didn't get any of the credit or attention it deserved. We loved it, will you?

7/10

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

Indonesia 2019 (our 30th country covered) - high schooler Deon (Jeff Smith) lives with his mother, who suffers from early onset Alzheimer's. His estranged father is a scientist working for the government. A waterborne parasite starts turning people into zombies or Zetas, with two variants and we see Deon head home from school and attempt to survive the zombie outbreak with a mother who wanders off, does not understand what is going on, and causes them both to be in danger.

In a race against time his father and the military have to work out what is going on, and to find a solution. At the same time Deon and his mother fall foul of Reza and his criminal brother Rayham (the humans are always worse than the infected), who forces Deon's mother to retrieve armaments for him, as it turns out, much like WWZ that the infected will not attack a potential host if they are unwell. In Zeta - When the Dead Awaken as the parasite takes over the brain of the infected, anyone with a brain injury or degenerative brain disorder like Alzheimer syndrome are left alone, it is a shiel, an invisibility cloak to a degree.

It will all come to an emotional end. There were a few things that annoyed me, but not massively, namely the makeup FX and music, but the rest of the movie was pretty solid and Jeff Smith carried it well on his young shoulders.

6/10

 

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

"Night of Something Strange" is a horror-"comedy" film that plunges its audience into a nightmarish and hilariously grotesque adventure. The story unfolds as a group of friends embark on a road trip, only to encounter a mysterious and deadly STD that turns its victims into sexually ravenous and far too rapey zombies. 

As the night progresses, the group faces increasingly bizarre and stomach-churning challenges, blending elements of classic horror with dark humor - tentacle penis and alien mouth vagina. Fueled by absurdity and gore, the film takes a unique approach to the zombie genre, delivering a wild and unpredictable ride that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. Prepare for a podcast episode filled with laughs, shocks, and an unforgettable night of something strange (Mrs Brown, Professor Stephen Hawking and Ken Foree).

From the team that brought you Johnny Z, Empire State of the Dead, Ms Cannibal Holocaust and the unforgettable House Shark, and starring many of the crossover cast member, this movie was found under the Comedy section - a place that didn't fit. For a comedy to work it has to be funny, the jokes have to land. Jamming a slip on shoe up someone's vagina, and a tsunami of ejaculate may seem funny, but it just isn't.

It is better than the other movies they made, and thanks to James (HorrorNerdUK) for the recommendation. The movie is a 4.7/10 on IMDB, 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and I have to agree with the mid-point scoring. 5/10 for me too.

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

"Wild Zero" is a rock'n'roll explosion of hilarity and zombie mayhem. Picture this: Alien invaders, rockabilly rebels, and the undead collide in a Japanese chaos-fest. Ace, a wannabe rockstar, finds himself battling not only extraterrestrial threats but also a zombie apocalypse. As chaos reigns, his only hope lies in the power of rock music and the love for his favorite band, Guitar Wolf. With more guitar riffs than coherent plotlines, "Wild Zero" is a wild ride through a world where rock 'n' roll transcends the boundaries of life and death. It's a head-banging, gut-busting, and brain-munching extravaganza that leaves you wondering, "Did that really just happen?"

Yes it did just happen and I just watched it, all thanks to James for the recommendation

5.5/10

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

Oh this one is solely on me. I thought I would be smart and create a simple juxtaposition between the fluffy bunny rabbits K-Drama Happiness and The Sadness, a gore ridden Taiwanese splatterfest. 

So it is my fault that I had to watch 13 hour of Happiness, getting progressively more and more incensed with the societal aspects of the show, and the annoying haves  (Mr Oh Ju, the wannabe building representative and the smarmy lawyer) looking down on the have nots (basically everyone else) and turning them on the central characters Sae-Bom and Yi-Huhn. Strong female lead with a male counterpart. 

13 hours over 12 episodes where the actual zombie virus story was pretty good, a drug, NEXT, that was supposed to be a mental and physical booster turned people into blood thirsty infected that had a thirst they needed to quench. But for each hour of the show you get 40 minutes of the annoying other cast members being annoying, none less so than the whiny old man who won't shut up.

Still if you persist the show is alright, despite a thoroughly explained ending or updates on half the characters.

6.5/10

I am also to blame, the blame squarely landing on my shoulders, for choosing The Sadness as a counter to Happiness. It was solely on name, you understand?

In this young lovebirds Jim and Kat, a not so strong female lead and a not so strong male foil, live in Taipei. They do their separate ways at the start of the work day and then the bloody shit hits the fan. A psycho granny melt a chef at the the cafe Jim is in with the chip fat fryer, and then peels off his skin before getting run down by a psycho driver. Jim has to run away before losing a finger or two to the Thai basil growing neighbour, whilst Kat is chased through town by a psychotic businessman who openly says he wants to f*ck her to death.

So much blood, so much gore, rape, body mutilation, and nothing nice. And then again a poor pay off at the end. Happiness we learn nothing about how we ended up where we did, and in The Sadness everyone dies. So bloody annoying.

If it your thing then give it a go, it is basically a modern version of the Crazies, made in Asia with sexual violence and a LOT of fake blood.

6/10   

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.

He was here for our 80th episode to review the first season of Fear the Walking Dead and he is back again. As he sits next to Michael at work there is no escaping the torrent of film recommendations and this one he paid attention to and watched, not once, but 3 times, it is the Train to Busan, a riveting South Korean zombie apocalypse film directed by Yeon Sang-ho, released in 2016. The movie unfolds primarily within the confines of a high-speed train traveling from Seoul to Busan, as passengers grapple with a sudden and catastrophic zombie outbreak.

It stars The Silent Sea and Squid Games Gong Yoo as a distant father who plans to take his daughter to her mother in Busan when the zombie apocalypse hits Korea. It is a breakneck speed adrenaline rush as the survivors try to escape the city on a high speed train full of infected.

I reviewed this back in episode 7 way before this podcast became such a thing, and I am more than happy to rewatch such a great movie and review it with Michael and Arvind.

7.5/10 

I'd love to hear from my dear listeners. Recommend a zombie movie or show I haven't covered, or some on and chat all things zeke. Or just like and share.