Category: Horror

“We Bury the Dead” (2024) starring Daisy Ridley / Z-View

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We Bury the Dead (2024)

Director: Zak Hilditch

Screenplay: Zak Hilditch

Stars:  Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Mark Coles Smith.

Tagline:  Volunteers needed.

The Plot…

When the US military accidentally detonates an experimental bomb off the island of Tasmania, those not instantly killed are left brain dead.  Some of these victims regain mobility.  With that mobility comes an overriding instinct to attack and kill.

 The military is going in to terminate the zombies.  They are accepting civilian volunteers to identify and bury victims.  Ava Newman volunteers.  Ava’s husband was on a business trip to Woodbridge, a city on the island.   Ava holds out hope that her husband survived unscathed.

Once inland, Ava convinces Clay, another volunteer, to help her find her husband.  Ava and Clay break away from their military unit and head into the city alone.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We Bury the Dead has an interesting concept.  The trailer looked good.  Sadly the movie didn’t work for me as well as I hoped.  My biggest complaint comes from the final scenes in the film.  No spoilers, but it was a step too far for me to suspend my disbelief.

We Bury the Dead (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Jaws” Alt Poster by Sahin Düzgün!

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This Jaws 50th Anniversary poster created by Sahin Düzgün is one of my favorites that I’ve seen by him. It’s clever and scary.  Definitely worthy to showcase Spielberg’s masterpiece.

Here is what Sahin had to say about his design:  50 years later and the ocean still feels a little less safe. Jaws didn’t just change cinema – it made us look twice before going for a swim. This poster’s all about tension, silence, and the shape beneath the surface. 🦈🌊

Brody: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

“Wounds” (2019) written & directed by Babak Anvari, starring Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson & Zazie Beetz / Z-View

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Wounds (2019)

Director: Babak Anvari

Screenplay:  Babak Anvari; based on THE VISIBLE FILTH by Nathan Ballingrud

Stars:  Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson, Zazie Beetz.

Tagline: Don’t call it in.

The Plot…

Will is a bartender in a New Orleans dive tavern.  One night after a vicious fight that left his friend badly wounded, Will finds a cell phone on the floor.  He puts it in his back pocket and forgets about it.  Early the next morning Will remembers the phone.  When Will looks to see who owns it, he discovers grisly photos and videos.

Then the phone rings…  that call will be the start of terrible things.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked the premise and set up for Wounds.  Sadly it never lives up to either.

Wounds (2019) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Pluribus”: Season 1 (2025) created by Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn / Z-View

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Pluribus: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Vince Gilligan

Director:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Eps. 3; 5; 9)
  • Zetna Fuentes (Ep. 4)
  • Gandja Monteiro (Ep. 6)
  • Adam Bernstein (Ep. 7)
  • Melissa Bernstein (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Ep. 3)
  • Alison Tatlock (Ep. 4)
  • Ariel Levine (Ep. 5)
  • Vera Blasi (Ep. 6)
  • Jenn Carroll (Ep. 7)
  • Jonny Gomez (Ep. 8)
  • Alison Tatlock & Gordon Smith (Ep. 9)

Starring:  Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor and John Cena.

Tagline: Happiness is contagious.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Astronomers are shocked when a SETI radio signal turns out to be a legit alien transmission.  The signal is determined to be a code for an RNA sequence.  Scientists begin working on it immediately.  A lab mishap infects one of the researchers.  Soon a geometric infection spreads.  One infected becomes two – two become four.

Within very little time the entire human population has been exposed.  Every person infected becomes part of the hive mind collective.  The infection rate is almost 100%.  There are only thirteen people in the world who remain unaffected.

With the infection what one person knows, they all know.  The infected appear calm and happy and they readily admit that the want to assimilate the uninfected.

Carol Sturka is one of the thirteen uninfected.  Her goal is to find a way to save the human race.

Thoughts…

Vince Gilligan has another winner.

Pluribus is the Latin word meaning “many”.  The Pluribus logo changes the “i” to a “1” which is very clever.

It was an interesting choice to make Rhea Seehorn’s character more than a bit unlikeable.

I look forward to season 2.

Pluribus: Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE HUNTER SAGA: HUNTER / HUNTER’S MOON / THE LAST HUNT by James Byron Huggins

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THE HUNTER SAGA by James Byron Huggins

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

First sentence…

‘That boy dies in four hours.”

In HUNTER, Nathaniel Hunter, one of the world’s best trackers, leads a US Military squad into the wilds of Alaska.  A creature that wiped out a scientific installation is on the loose.  The beast, the result of experiments using prehistoric RNA, is unlike anything ever seen by modern man.  The monster is the ultimate killing machine, an apex predator without hesitation or mercy.

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First sentence…

It consumed Angus Staford as it had consumed dead men since the beginning of time, effortlessly crushing bone without removing its scarlet stare from the surrounding night.

In HUNTER’S MOON, Nathaniel Hunter travels to the moors of England.  An army scientist, using protocols that fabricated the prehistoric creature in HUNTER, has infected himself creating a superior beast. This leviathan kills then returns to the savage wilderness of the English moors.  Local police and military units that faced the creature were wiped out.  Hunter barely survived against the original monster.  This new creature is more powerful and resourceful.

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First sentence…

‘We’re going to kill Hunter.”

In THE LAST HUNT, Nathaniel Hunter is living a peaceful life in his Montana mountainside cabin unaware that he’s been marked for death. Scipio Dante, the genius sociopathic billionaire scientist behind the prehistoric RNA experiments that created modern day monsters, wants Hunter dead.

Dante has perfected the serum that creates the nearly unkillable beasts.  Now those infected become monsters that retain human consciousness.  Dante along with two others will take the serum. As insurance, Dante has hired a team of mercenaries led by Roska.  Roska is a tracker with skills that match Hunter’s.

Nathaniel Hunter has no idea of the storm that is coming to his doorstep.  Three unkillable prehistoric apex predators with human consciousness, and a mercenary squad led by his equal are en route.

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Nathaniel Hunter was created with Sylvester Stallone in mind.  As you read the series, it’s easy to imagine a younger Sly as Hunter.  Sly Stallone optioned the rights to adapt Hunter as a film or television series.  Although one has been rumored for years, it has yet to happen.  Fans would love to see it.

The Hunter Trilogy gets my highest recommendation.  They are fast paced.  Well written and fun rides.  Byron Huggins knows his stuff and it shows.

HUNTER rates 5 of 5 stars.

HUNTER’S MOON rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE LAST HUNT rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Patient Zero” (2018) starring Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer and Stanley Tucci / Z-View

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Patient Zero (2018)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay: Mike Le

Stars: Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, John Bradley, Clive Standen, Agyness Deyn and Stanley Tucci.

Tagline:  Find the Disease. Find the Cure.

The Plot…

A virus has wiped out most of the population. Once infected humans quickly become enraged, unable to think or communicate.  A large group of civilians, soldiers and CDC scientists have found shelter in an underground bunker.

The scientists bring in captured infected for study to find a cure.  They’re surprised to discover that one of their test subjects, a former professor, doesn’t show the normal signs of infection.  Even more shocking is the professor’s ability to understand and communicate  with those infected.   The scientists believe the professor could be the key to a cure.  The professor believes that he (and others like him) are the next step in human evolution.

As the scientists work on a cure, the professor has a plan of his own…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fans of Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger tales will be disappointed to learn that this film has nothing to do with the first novel in his series.  Still, fans of zombie movies should enjoy this one.

Patient Zero (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hope” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Hope is here.  The poster piques my curiosity and the trailer pulls me on board.  Hope has already been released to great reviews in France.  It premieres in the US this fall.

Deal me in.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung- min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village.

In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung- ki (Zo In-Sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead.

But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

“Bunker” (2022) / Z-View

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Bunker (2022)

Director: Adrian Langley

Screenplay: Michael Huntsman

Stars: Roger Clark, Luke Baines, Patrick Moltane, Kayla Radomski and Julian Feder.

Tagline: None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

World War I.  A squad of British soldiers have been hunkered down in their trench.  Word reaches them that the Germans they’ve been fighting have retreated.  The British commander orders his men to move along the trench and take over the German outpost.

Along the way, the British soldiers see several mutilated bodies.  Once at the outpost they find a door barricaded shut.  When they break through, they discover a German soldier secured to a cross.  Shelling begins and the doorway collapses sealing the British soldiers in.

Now trapped in the darkness, they begin to hear and see strange things.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bunker moved at a sloooow pace.  The British soldiers were trapped, but I had to get out.

Bunker (2022) rates 1 of 5 stars

“Apex” starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton / Z-View

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Apex (2026)

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Screenplay: Jeremy Robbins

Stars: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton

Tagline: Hunt. Survive.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Five months ago, adrenaline junkie Sasha and her boyfriend were mountain climbing when an avalanche knocked him unconscious.  As he hung limp the safety line attached to Sasha began to pull her down.  Either she had to cut him loose or they both would die.

She did the unthinkable.

Now Sasha has come to a remote part of the Australian outback. The remote mountains, raging rapids and harsh conditions are unforgiving.  Perhaps Sasha has a death wish.

Sasha’s will to live will be tested when she crosses path with a psychopath.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlize Theron was quoted as saying this is her favorite of all the films she’s made.  Stars often say that their current film is their favorite.  In this case it may be true.  Theron and Apex director Baltasar Kormákur are signed to make another film together.

Taron Egerton is believable as the psycho but his portrayal isn’t as frightening as it could be.  He’s more manic than maniac.  Some of the background characteristics (the jerky, what happened to the family that was missing) could have worked to make Egerton’s killer much more scary and dangerous.  They would have had to lean a bit more into tension and terror and I don’t think they wanted to do that at the expense of action.

Apex (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars

MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington / Z-View

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MONSTER ISLAND by David Wellington

First sentences…

Osman leaned over the rail and spat into the gray sea before turning again to shout orders at his first mate Ysuf.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The zombie apocalypse came.  It was as bad as anyone could imagine.  In no time at all the zombies outnumber the living.  The humans who survive huddle in small groups in whatever safe haven they can find.  But without adequate food, water, electricity, lights, air conditioning or heat, survival is barely a step above existing.

The cities are the worst.  The bigger the city, the worse the situation.  In New York City most of the millions of people who used to live and work there are now members of the walking dead.  You’d have to be crazy or have a daughter who will die if you don’t.

Dekalb isn’t crazy.  But he’s been separated from his daughter.  Dekalb was captured by a squad of warrior women.  Their leader will die without the right medicine.  Dekalb knows where a supply can be found.  The meds are at the U.N. Building in midtown Manhattan.  Dekalb offers to retrieve the medicine if he can be reunited with his daughter.  Although a small squad of the warriors will travel with Dekalb, they’ll be outnumbered millions to one.  The only saving grace is Dekalb can think.  Zombies are just mindless eating machines.

All of them… except one.

A medical student named Gary had a plan to survive the zombie apocalypse.  And he did.

Sort of.

Now Gary is one of the walking dead, but he still has the ability to think.  Sure, like all of the other walkers, Gary has a never-ending hunger for human flesh.  But in addition to his ability to think, Gary can mentally control the other zombies.  Gary’s developed a plan that will make him king of the world.  Humans will be contained, corralled and allowed to live…  as a food source for Gary and his walking dead army.

Dekalb and Gary are on a collision course.

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MONSTER ISLAND is the first in Wellington’s MONSTER trilogy (MONSTER ISLAND, MONSTER NATION and MONSTER PLANET).

Wellington first published MONSTER ISLAND in installments available for free on the internet.

David Wellington takes the traditional zombie troupes and puts a spin on them.  I enjoyed the ride and look forward to the others in the trilogy.

Rating: