It’s Zack Snyder’s year and we are all here for it.
Following his hugely successful director’s cut of Justice League, Zack Snyder returns with his latest offering, the Netflix original zombie film Army of the Dead.
The action-horror Army of the Dead is set in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas ravaged by a widespread zombie outbreak. Tasked with extracting $200 million from an underground vault beneath a casino, a group of mercenaries have to navigate their way through the zombie infested city and must escape before it is bombed in an attempt to destroy all the zombies.
A surprising, unique yet effective blend of the zombie and heist film genres, Army of the Dead works due to director Snyder and writers Shay Hatten and Joby Harold’s efforts to make the film stand out and keep it elevated above the crowded slate of zombie films. The result is one that combines the sensibilities of a bygone era of creature features that is mixed with the mechanics of a modern-day action blockbuster.
Snyder, through his trademark opening credit sequence builds the world where his story takes place, while also introducing the characters and their backstories. It is through this very sequence that he sets the stage for what is to come and what the film has to offer – a straightforward, unpretentious, zombie action flick, that is wholly fun. Snyder embraces the unique nature of his film’s premise, and does not take it seriously, and neither should we as the audience.
Running at almost two and a half hours, the story does take its time to propel forward, yet never feels like a drag. Snyder keeps us entertained and hooked through numerous action sequences that are exciting, at times tense and terrifying which are executed perfectly throughout. Moreover, there is a balanced approach to comedic and emotional scenes, that prove to work really well with the overall film in quite unexpected ways.
The film is firmly carried on the shoulders of Dave Bautista’s lead performance, which finds him constantly alternating between an emotionally lost man and a gruesome war hero. Bautista, who has been on a spree of nabbing roles in major films over the past few years, makes a strong case here for him to be considered in more lead roles in the future.
Besides Bautista, breakout performances are also showcased by Matthias Schweighöfer (who headlines as the comedic relief of the film and as the standout character), and Samantha Win (who steals the spotlight in a brilliantly choreographed action sequence).
Coming to the zombies, Zack Snyder ensures that they prove to be a volatile, brutal and threatening force to the heroes (oh, and also throws in a zombie tiger into the mix), and gives them characteristics unique for the entire cinematic treatment of zombies. This not only leaves audiences enthralled, but also with more questions than answers, which hopefully are addressed in future films.
Furthermore, props have to be given to the amazing set design for the post-apocalyptic Los Vegas, and the extensive prosthetics work for the thousands of zombie characters present within the film.
Snyder’s films are known to be visually striking and are often a defining element of his filmography. Army of the Dead, in this regard fails to meet those standards. Snyder, who also acts as the cinematographer of the film, makes a stylistic but questionable choice of employing soft focus for the film. While this would have worked in moments, Snyder’s decision to resort to the style and extensively use it throughout the film feels overused. Lending a blurry look to the film, this may hamper one’s viewing experience and may prove to be tiresome.
The film boasts and consists of a strong selection of songs and Tom Holkenborg’s musical score is eerie and effectively conveys the dread within the film, whilst also complimenting the action scenes whenever required.
Despite its flaws, Army of the Dead wins through a creative and bold approach, fun-filled nature and endless entertainment value. By revitalizing the audience’s interest, it is definitely a strong addition to the decades old zombie film genre, and leaves plenty of avenues open for more stories to be told within this universe.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 