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Movie Review: Zombies Anonymous

ZA: Zombies Anonymous
2005, NR

In an imagined reality where zombies coexist with ordinary mortal folk, the undead are considered second-class citizens. Angela (Gina Ramsden) finds this out the hard way when she's shot by her boyfriend and must learn to adjust to her new zombie lifestyle. She tempers her hunger for human flesh with Zombies Anonymous meetings and tries to pass for living in the mortal world.

Joshua Nelson co-stars in Marc Fratto's tongue-in-rotted-cheek satire.

(Thank you Netflix for this synopsis)

What happens when the news agencies begin to report that the newly dead are simply just not dieing? I'm sure we can all come up with some gruesome scenarios right?

This movie is a bit... different.

The newly dead are confused; they don't understand why they are not, well, dead. They are the same as they ever were. Except that their flesh is rotting and oozing goop. What's a poor newly un-dead to do when trying to "pretend" they are still amongst the living?

Join Zombies Anonymous, of course.

This movie is in my top 8 favourite zombie movies of all time because of the story, the memorable quotes, and the main character, Angela.

Gina Ramsden, who plays Angela, did a very good job, and deserves to be cast in movies that certain A-List no talents are cast in, of which I can think of 5 off the top of me head.

The other actors were good, as well. The commandant might get on your nerves a bit, but I think that was the point. Angela's ex-boyfriend Josh, played by Joshua Nelson, does a very good job at convincing us that he is a sick, twisted, obsessed, psychopathic wanker.

The cinematography was pretty decent for an indie film, as were most of the zombie effects.

Now, you all know I don't give spoilers, so I am not going into the story except for what I have already said above. I will say this however: Pay careful attention to the little things going on in the background. The news casts and "Look Alive" skin care ads on the tele, etc.

I don't know if some of you will think there is some kind of social message to the movie or not (as it seems many zombie movies do for some reason), and, to be frank, I really could care less about such things, regardless if I think personally there is a message in there or not. In fact, don't expect to see any questions about such things in my interview with Marc Fratto, and if it happens to come up, then it's because he mentions it - not me. The reason I choose not to ask these types of questions or delve into them myself is due to having spent several of my younger, more impressionable years growing up in Belfast, North Ireland. I have had me fill of politics and the like... Understand, my mutated minions?

I like zombies for the simple fact that they eat people and are undead nasties, not because the movie they're in has some socio-political statement to make.

On to quotes, because they are bleedin' grand.

One quote I took away from this movie that I use constantly is the term "mortally challenged." That is what they call themselves at ZA: They are not zombies, they are mortally challenged. He is not one of the undead, he's mortally challenged. (Maybe they should use that term in True Blood.) Anyway, I love it.

A news report states: "The undead are no longer eligible for federal assistance." Makes sense I guess.

During Angela's meetings she gets told: "Report the creep - he fucking killed you."

Here are a few more from the meetings.

"Your eye is leaking again, don't get it on the pillow."

"You're a little creepy sometimes, Louis." (Can you imagine a zombie finding another zombie creepy?)

Here are a couple more from other bits of the movie:

"You better get your head on straight and stop acting like a little bitch." (This was said to one of the zombie hunters.)

And last but not least: "You're a zombie, so start acting like one and rip her fucking guts out."

LOL! Good times...

If you love zombie movies, especially indie zombie movies, then I'm sure you will like this one. If you don't, I can't help that, but in my opinion there are several famous zombie "cult" flicks out there that people rave over that I simply think suck hard. (I'm not talking about ANY Romero movies, BTW.) I guess we all have different ideas about a what a good horror indie movie is, but trust me: this one is good!

Zombies Anonymous is an interesting take on zombies. It's disturbing and ultra-violent, the way a good zombie movie is supposed to be. If you want some pretentious, artsy, look-at-us-trying-too-hard-to-be-clever flick, this one isn't for you. If you want a good zombie story, that isn't a "when the fuck is this movie going to be over?" movie, it is definitely not only worth a watch, but an add to your zombie DVD collection. I'm even hoping for a sequel!

Now, go out and buy this DVD - it's what zombie movies were meant to be.

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