THE DEAD (2011)

Streaming on Tubi!
Directed/Written by Howard J. Ford & Jon Ford.
Starring Rob Freeman, Prince David Osei, & David Dontoh

Just when you think that no new permutation of zombie film can be made, another rears its ugly, undead head. Now, a lot of these films are crap. OK, I admit. Most of them are. But when one is made with such attention to theme, atmosphere, and respect for not only Romero’s laws but the laws of African voodooism, I have to stand up, take notice, and make sure as many people check out the film as possible.

The Ford Brothers have done a very simple thing with THE DEAD. Like Gareth Edwards’ MONSTERS, most of the atmosphere is already there in this film. The arid deserts, the dusty ramshackle towns, the dirt roads, the grassy prairies, the pitch black darkness of the nights—it’s all already there, a part of the landscape, and all the Fords have to do is turn on the camera to get it all. The film serves as an amazing travelogue of Africa. First and foremost, you can tell that this is a step above most zeeks in that the landscape the film takes place on is exotic and new. This is not film about a group of people trapped in a house with arms breaking through the windows; in this film, there are no walls that can hold back the dead. They are everywhere and seemingly unstoppable.

Don’t get me wrong. These zombies can be killed. All of Romero’s rules apply. A shot to the head and they’re down. It’s the sheer number of the undead that strikes fear. Like Romero’s film, the waves of undead are the real threat. Sure, one or two can be taken out, but when they are coming at you en masse, it’s not only dangerous, it’s damn scary. There will be some “fast moving zombies” fans who will scoff at the shambling Romeroian dead depicted here, but numerous times throughout the film, the dangers of these zombies is exemplified as the stars feel they have the situation well in hand and the tide turns in a heartbeat. I believe in this day and age, it’s more challenging to make slow zombies scary. Sure something running after you is frightening, but unstoppable creatures that move in your direction no matter what is much more akin to the metaphor of the inevitability of death I believe Romero intended. It’s a testament to the skill of the Ford Brothers as directors that they make these encounters with the slow moving dead absolutely frightening over and over in THE DEAD.

Star Rob Freeman does a lot with very little talking in his role as Lt. Brian Murphy. In fact, there’s not much talking at all in much of this film. I interviewed Freeman this week, and I think you’ll come to admire his performance after hearing the arduous ordeal he went through to make this film when you read the interview next week. Freeman does a fantastic job as a grizzled war vet who just wants to get out of the country, but can’t seem to find any place that isn’t riddled with brain munchers. There are numerous scenes of Murphy silently moving through the desert and jungle, attempting to evade the zombies rather than wantonly kill them. I love the way Murphy tries only to kill the zombies closest to him or ones he can use in some way. It’s a respect for the dead that few zombie movies have. This is a warrior with a code of honor; the closest thing to a Rambo meets zombies we’ll probably ever see.

Again, like Romero’s films, the Ford Brothers imbue this film with multiple layers, making the film easy for metaphorical dissection. Is it a statement about AIDS? Famine? World relations? Apartheid? The answer: yes, to all of them in one way or another. Setting this film in Africa, there’s going to be comparisons and allusions to all sorts of hot topic issues, but the best thing about this film is that it doesn’t take a stance on any of them. In the end, the Ford Brothers made a zombie movie and it can be enjoyed on that level. If you want to read more into it, the context is there, but not preached or beaten into you—much like Romero’s early, more subtle work, as well.

The film is filled with extremely powerful moments such as a scene where a bitten woman tries to give her uninfected baby to Murphy. Another scene where Murphy has to put down a bitten friend is handled deftly as well, as is a scene where the local police patrol the streets looking for survivors and shooting the bitten point blank with callousness. That said, I have to admit that as the film went on, it did become a bit repetitive in that the scenes seem to be set up to amp scares rather than the scares coming internally from the story.

Repetition aside, THE DEAD is not just a good zombie movie, it’s the best zombie film of the year and better than any I’ve seen in ages. Fans of Romero will love this film, and I think fans of Snyder fast zombies will be surprised at it as well. Just when you thought that you’ve seen it all, with THE DEAD the Ford Brothers go and make a zombie film that is as fresh as a zombie is rotten.

Check out the trailer here!!