RIPPY (aka THE RED, ZOMBIROO, 2024)

New On Demand and digital download from Capelight Pictures!
Directed by Ryan Coonan.
Written by Richard Barcaricchio, Ryan Coonan.
Starring Michael Biehn, Tess Haubrich, Angie Milliken, Aaron Pedersen, Tom Block, Barry Mitchell, Aaron Davison, Martin Blum, Don Bridges, Nathan Jones
Check out the trailer here!!

On the edge of the Australian outback, a small town sheriff named Maddie (Tess Haubrich) tries to prove herself to be a hero like her deceased father when an 8-foot zombie kangaroo dubbed Rippy begins murdering locals and campers alike. The local pub owner (Angie Milliken) and her loony ex-husband (Michael Biehn) try to help Maddie against the rampaging beast, but look out, that roo is hoppin’ mad!

Yep, I went there. But this film doesn’t really go for the easy puns and instead director Ryan Coonan, who directed WATERBOURNE, the short film this film is based on and a hint as to how this kangaroo got so zombiefied and angry, plays things straight. But because things are played straight doesn’t mean the goofiness of a killer kangaroo on the loose isn’t funny at times. The ridiculousness of the situation is highlighted quite a bit along the way as Sheriff Maddie forms a posse and sets out to track down the beast. The action moves pretty quickly and while this is your run of the mill monster run amuck film, the fact that it’s a killer kangaroo and that the carnage is so gruesome makes it better than it should be.

Yes, the CG kangaroo isn’t completely integrated into the scenes, but nevertheless it looks pretty ominous in the moonlight, drooling blood and showing that it’s impervious to bullets. As I said, the maulings are down right goppy, so that adds to the coolness despite some lackluster CG. I kind of wish they would have gone practical with this one, as I think a kangaroo puppet in scenes might have made the beast more integrated into the scenes for close-ups. Practical effects were used on the deep wounds the monster enflicts, though.

Props to Michael Beihn for giving his all in this one as the scrappy war vet with a few screw loose. He brings some nice gravitas and heart to this film in some key quieter scenes. Tess Haubrich, who is a dead ringer for Jennifer Carpenter, is solid as well as the scrappy cop. And I have to mention the fun cameo by FURY ROAD’s Nathan Jones, who has a small bit memorable role.

This is a short and sweet little zombie monster movie that shies away from explaining the whys behind the monster’s creation and rampage until the animated end credits, which is a decision that allows for the main film to cut right to the action. RIPPY is not required watching, but it is a harmless and better than average monster movie due to the strong cast and straight forward tone despite the ridiculous premise. Plus it’s got a giant zombie kangaroo. I mean, who can say no to that?