Category: Zombies

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.

+++

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:

“Dylan Dog: Dead of Night” (2010) starring Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, and Taye Diggs / Z-View

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Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)

Director: Kevin Munroe

Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer; based on Dylan Dog by Tiziano Sclavi

Stars: Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs, Mitchell Whitfield, Laura Spencer, Laura Spencer, Marco St. John, Kyle Clements and Kurt Angle.

Tagline: Living investigator. Undead clients. Zombie partner.

The Plot…

Dylan Dog at one time fought the things that go bump in the night.  He gave it up when his wife was killed by vampires.  Since then Dylan has worked as a private eye on normal cases.

That all changes when Elizabeth Ryan comes to Dylan for help.  Her father was killed by something strange.  Now Dylan is back… and the case will bring him into contact with vampires, werewolves, zombies and something worse.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

One of the vampires is named Sclavi. Tiziano Sclavi created Dylan Dog.

At one point a character calls Dylan Dog, “Superman”.  Brandon Routh who plays Dylan Dog of course played Superman in an earlier film.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night leans a bit more into comedy than I’d prefer.  Even still I would have liked to have seen a sequel.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Night Eats the World” (2018) / Z-View

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The Night Eats the World (2018)

Director: Dominique Rocher

Screenplay: Jérémie Guez, Guillaume Lemans, Dominique Rocher; based on La nuit a dévoré le monde by Pit Agarmen

Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant, Sigrid Bouaziz.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When Sam goes to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to pick up his belongings, a huge party is going on.  Sam is finally able to catch up to his ex and she tells him his things are in a back room.  Sam goes in and closes the door to get away from the crowd.  He sits down and falls asleep.

When Sam wakes the apartment is empty.  But there are signs of a massacre.  Blood on the walls… the floors.  Thankfully Sam is alone.  He locks the door.

As he looks out the window he see more bloodshed and destruction.  Then he spots a family running to a parked car.  Before they can escape the family is swarmed and killed.

The zombie apocalypse is well underway… and Sam is trapped in the apartment.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Night Eats the World (2018) is a SLOW burn.  If you’re into that, you’ll like it more than me.  I prefer more action in zombie movies.

The Night Eats the World (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.

FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson / Z-View

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FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson

First sentences…

Tim Reed sits in the driver’s seat of his ancient and rust-punched Datsun hatchback, balancing a screwdriver on the tip of his finger.  Hutch and Tim are killing time, waiting for some poor guy to come home so they can terrify him and, if necessary, perform grievous harm to the architecture of the man’s body.  It’s the usual deal: reluctance to pay a debt owed.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Tim and Hutch are leg-breakers for Peach Sorreno.  Although the two are more than willing to throw a beatdown on deadbeats who’ve borrowed from Peach, when Tim and Hutch show up to collect, more often than not they come away with money.  That’s par for the course and the way it’s been working that night.

Until they get to Wesley.

Wesley’s a methhead. He claims he has no money.  When Tim and Hutch search Wesley’s apartment, they find a severed hand in his refrigerator.  Tim and Hutch decide to take Wesley and the hand to Peach’s warehouse.  There they’ll sort out what to do next.

What Tim and Hutch don’t know, but will soon learn is the hand causes anyone near it to get violent, murderous thoughts.  These urges become so strong and persistant that those under the influence lose control and act on them.  They will brutally murder anyone near.  Worse still, the killed by a person under the influence of the demon hand, reanimate as zombies with the same sadistic killing urges.

As the madness spreads two factions work to recover the hand…

  • Peach Sorreno knows Tim and Hutch had the hand, but do they still?  Sorreno wants it badly, and brings in Nick Coffin, one of his “fixers” to resolve the issue.

 

  • A US government black ops organization that deals with the occult has been searching for the hand.  Under the direction of David Lundy (who wants the demon hand to weaponize it), two field agents, John Bonner and Samantha Weils are boots on the ground.

With each passing minute, the fevor spreads.  One infected becomes two.  Two become four.  If the hand isn’t recovered and destroyed, it could be the end of the world.

+++

When I started FEVER HOUSE I expected a crime novel with horror overtones.  What I got was an epic, crime/conspiracy/horror/demonic/apocalyptic tale that I absolutely loved.  I’ve already purchased the sequel and it’s nearing the top of my next-to-read pile.

FEVER HOUSE gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Dick Dynamite: 1944” (2023) / Z-View

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Dick Dynamite: 1944 (2023)

Director:  Robbie Davidson

Screenplay: Robbie Davidson

Stars: Snars, Olly Bassi, Irvine Welsh.

Tagline: Dick Dynamite and his Nazi-killing commandos must stop depraved German scientists from turning New Yorkers into flesh-eating zombies.

The Plot…

World War II is heading into its final days.  The Nazis realize they will lose unless a desperation plan works.

And it does!

The Nazis have developed a way to turn people into zombies!  This will give them access to unlimited soldiers.  In order to stop the Nazis, Dick Dynamite will lead a team of Nazi-Zombie-Killing-Commandos behind enemy lines.  Heaven help anyone who gets in Dick’s way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Dick Dynamite: 1944 trailer made the movie look like zany, over-the-top fun.  It was zany.  It was over-the-top.  It was NOT fun.

The movie was made through crowd-funding and self-financing.  This in itself isn’t bad.  Microbudget movies can have a certain charm… when well done.  Dick Dynamite: 1944 had a promising start, but quickly grew tiresome.  The jokes were bad.  The pacing was off.  The acting and direction didn’t help.  I tapped out at about 22 minutes.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Dick Dynamite: 1944 (2023) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Silent Zone” (2025) starring Matt Devere and Luca Papp / Z-View

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Silent Zone (2025)

Director:  Peter Deak

Screenplay: Viktor Csák, Krisztián Illés

Stars: Matt Devere, Luca Papp, Nikolett Barabas, Declan Hannigan, Katia Bokor and Robert Jackson.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

In a world ravaged by zombies, Cassius and Abigail, the teenage girl he saved as a baby, struggle to survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I knew going in this would be a drive-in movie, but it wasn’t bad.

Silent Zone (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Die Alone” (2024) starring Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith and Frank Grillo / Z-View

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Die Alone (2024)

Director:  Lowell Dean

Screenplay: Lowell Dean

Stars: Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith, Jonathan Cherry, Sari Mercer, Steven Roy, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat and Frank Grillo.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A zombie outbreak is underway.  Ethan and his girlfriend Emma planned to make it to a remote cabin which they hoped w0uld provide sanctuary.

That’s all that Ethan remembers since he woke up alone.

As Ethan begins looking for Emma he is attacked by several armed men.  He’d have been killed if Mae, a middle-aged woman, hadn’t rescued him.  Ethan thanks Mae and says that he since he woke up, he can’t remember much, only that his girlfriend is missing.  Mae hasn’t seen her.  Mae says that Ethan is in no condition to continue his journey.  She says he’s welcome to stay at her farm until he’s better.

Ethan agrees.  Mae’s definitely a survivalist.  Her farm is remote and full of booby-traps.  As time passes Ethan starts remembering more and more.  Before long he’s sure all is not as it seems.

But he has no idea of what is to come.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Frank Grillo appears in just a few (but very memorable) scenes.

I figured out the twist early on, but wasn’t sure how it would play out.  The final scenes of the movie were unexpected.

Die Alone (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“We Bury the Dead” starring Daisy Miller – The Trailer is Here!

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Check out the trailer for We Bury the Dead starring Daisy Miller.

Deal me in!

After a catastrophic military disaster, the dead don’t just rise – they hunt. Ava (Daisy Ridley) searches for her missing husband, but what she finds is far more terrifying.

Starring: Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Mark Coles Smith
Directed by: Zak Hilditch
Release Date: January 2, 2026

“Outbreak” (2024) / Z-View

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Outbreak (2024)

Director:  Jeff Wolfe

Screenplay:  Lance Ochsner, Jeff Wolfe; story by Erik Aude’

Stars: Billy Burke, Raoul Max Trujillo, Alyshia Ochse, Taylor Handley and Jessica Frances Dukes.

Tagline: It starts as an infection. It ends in devastation.

The Plot…

Park Rangers Neil Morris, John Gibson and their Chief Mike Cortez respond to a call involving a rabid dog.  When the dog attacks Chief Cortez, Neil hesitates in shooting the animal.  The delay results in Cortez being bitten.

Back at the station, Chief Cortez orders Neil to take some time off.  For the last two months Neil’s work has suffered.  He’s been distracted due to the disappearance of his teenage son.  Neil’s wife isn’t doing much better.

Neil reluctantly takes the vacation.  He decides to use the time to look for his son.  While in the woods, Neil is attacked by a disfigured woman.  He kills her in self-defense and discovers she was infected.  As Neil drives back home, he sees the town is overrun with infected.

Neil keeps driving.  He plans to scoop up his wife and head for safety.  Unfortunately, some terrors are inescapable.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Outbreak (2024) is more psychological thriller than all-out zombie actioner.  The two twists at the end are worth the price of admission.

Outbreak (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Operation Undead” (2024) / Z-View

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Operation Undead (2024)

Director:  Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri

Screenplay:  Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri

Stars: Thawatchanin Darayon, Akkarat Nimitchai. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

1941.  World War II rages.  In Chumphon Province, Thailand, a squad of rookie soldiers find themselves fighting against well armed Japanese invaders.  Then a zombie outbreak starts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I like well made zombie films.  One set during World War II has a lot of potential.  I tapped out at the 35 minute mark.  Your mileage may vary.

Operation Undead (2024) rates 1 of 5 stars

“Ziam” (2025) / Z-View

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Ziam (2025)

Director:  Kulp Kaljareuk

Screenplay: Kulp Kaljareuk, Nut Nualpang, Weerasu Worrapot, Vatanyu Ingkavivat, Chonnatee Pimnam

Stars: Mark Prin Suparat, Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

As zombie virus outbreak rapidly spreads, Singh, a retired Muay Thai fighter battles through hordes of the walking dead to rescue his girlfriend Rin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I lasted a little over 30 minutes before tapping out.  Your mileage may vary.

Ziam (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars

“Deadsight” (2018) / Z-View

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Deadsight (2018)

Director:  Jesse Thomas Cook

Screenplay: Liv Collins, Kevin Revie

Stars: Liv Collins, Adam Seybold.

Tagline:  You’ll never see them coming.

The Plot…

A man with no memory how he got there, wakes up handcuffed to a gurney in an ambulance.  No one else is in the vehicle.  Worse still, the man’s eyes are bandaged.  When he pulls back the wraps, his vision is practically nothing.

The man works himself lose although still handcuffed to a rail of the gurney.  He’ll have to use it for a cane.  When he exits the ambulance, he discovers that a zombie apocalypse has started.  Through sheer luck the man comes across a deserted (he hopes) farm house.

Meanwhile, pregnant police officer Mara Madigan is looking for shelter.  She spots a deserted (she hopes) farm house.

Soon a pregnant woman and blind man will join forces in an effort to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I tapped out after about thirty minutes.  Your mileage may vary.

Deadsight (2018) rates 1 of 5 stars