Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
28 Years Later (2025)
Director: Danny Boyle
Screenplay: Alex Garland
Stars: Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Edvin Ryding, Chi Lewis-Parry, Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes.
Tagline: Time didn’t heal anything.
The Plot…
2002. In Britain a fast spreading infection turns people into mindless, frenzied, killing machines. The source is called the Rage Virus. The virus is passed through bites, blood or saliva. There is no cure.
As a horde attacks, Jimmy, a twelve-year-old boy sees his mother taken down. Jimmy runs to the church where his father is minister. The swarm of infected follows closely behind. Jimmy’s father gives the boy a small cross and tells him to “run!”. As the infected burst into the church, Jimmy’s father allows himself to be taken so that Jimmy may escape.
28 years later. The Rage Virus is contained to the British Isles which are now quarantined from the rest of the world. Military vessels patrol to make sure no one gets in or out. The virus has mutated. Some infected have grown bigger, faster and have limited reasoning.
Survivors either live alone or in small fortified villages. One such refuge is on a coastal island connected to the mainland by a causeway that is underwater except at low tide. Sentries stand watch 24 hours a day.
Jamie, his wife Isla and their twelve-year-old son Spike live on this island. Jamie is a scavenger for the community. Isla has been sick. She’s started to hallucinate. She’s weak and getting worse.
From time to time Jamie goes back to the mainland to search for needed items. Timing is crucial. He must leave at low tide and return before the water rises. If he fails to do so, tides are too strong and deep. Getting back to the island is then impossible.
Jamie believes that Spike is mature enough for his first trip to the mainland. The minimum age is usually fifteen. Going against convention, Jamie takes Spike over. When Spike learns that a doctor used to live within traveling distance, he wants to take his mother there. Jamie tells Spike the trip would be much too dangerous. Worse still, the doctor is out of his mind.
If Spike survives his first trip to the mainland, he is determined to take his mother to the doctor.
That is IF he survives…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
28 days later upped the ante with the zombie genre. (And let’s not quibble if the rage-infected are zombies.)
There is a nice surprise twist near the end of the film.
The final scenes have a different feel than the rest of the film. Many will find/have found the change jarring. These scenes set up the next film in the series.
I’ve always contended that the best part of zombie/apocalyptic films is at the very beginning when people are unsure of what is happening or how to best respond. Having the virus mutate and having Spike make the mainland journey for the first time was a smart move. The audience is learning about the changes along with Spike. I hope the next film doesn’t make the infected blasé.
28 Years Later (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars
Peninsula (2020)
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Screenplay: Yeon Sang-ho, Ryu Yong-jae
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re and Lee Ye-won.
Tagline: Escape the Apocalypse
The Plot…
A zombie virus outbreak left South Korea a wasteland. When the apocalypse started, Jung-seok, a Korean marine, brought his sister, her husband and their little boy to a military safe location. While there a man infected with the zombie virus made it through. When the man turned, Jung-seok’s sister and child were killed. Both Jung-seok and his brother-in-law have carried the guilt of not being able to save them.
Four years later, Jung-seok (now a civilian), his brother-in-law and two others are offered a job that will make them rich. Chinese gangsters say that a truck containing $20 million is located in the Busan peninsula. If the four can make it to the truck and bring it back, they are promised $10 million to split.
Jung-seok and his three partners take the gig. They know the area is overrun with zombies. What they don’t know is that a rouge military and others have made the area home. And they don’t like strangers.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I’m a huge fan of Train to Busan. I consider it a classic zombie movie. So you can imagine my anticipation to see Train to Busan‘s writer/director Yeon Sang-ho’s sequel, Peninsula. Sang-ho cowrote and directed Peninsula. Unfortunately it falls short of the original. I’m reminded of how I felt after seeing Escape from LA since I loved Escape from New York.
Although Peninsula is a Train to Busan sequel, no characters from the original film appear. It’s another story set in the same world as the first film. I wouldn’t mind seeing more tales from Busan.
Peninsula (2020) rates 3 of 5 stars
Finally we have the trailer (and poster) for 28 Years Later.
Deal me in.
Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award®-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later, a terrifying new story set in the world created by 28 Days Later.
It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Alex GarlandProduced by: Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland
Executive Producer: Cillian Murphy
Cast: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes
Dawn of the Dead (2002)
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenplay: James Gunn; based on Dawn of the Dead by George A. Romero
Stars: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell, Michael Kelly, Kevin Zegers, Lindy Booth, Jayne Eastwood, Boyd Banks, Inna Korobkina, Louis Ferreira, Bruce Bohne, Scott H. Reiniger, Tom Savini, Ken Foree and Matt Frewer.
Tagline: When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.
The Plot…
At the onset of a zombie apocalypse a group of diverse strangers take refuge in a mall. In the group is a nurse, a cop, a married couple with a baby on the way, a tv salesman, a rich jerk and three mall security guards. As the zombie horde outside the mall tensions rise.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
This is Zack Snyder’s feature film debut. He hit a homerun with his first at bat.
The introduction of the zombie apocalypse from Anna’s viewpoint is genius. Escaping from the zombie in her house in the early morning to seeing helicopters, neighbors getting attacked, and then driving away from the madness into more chaos is perfect.
When Ana is driving down a highway there is a nod/Easter egg to Night of the Living Dead. A truck crashes into a gas station/diner causing a big explosion. In Night of the Living Dead Ben says he was in diner parking lot when a truck crashed into the gas pumps.
Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Tom Savini appeared in the original Dawn of the Dead and have cameos in this one. One of the stores in the mall is named “Gaylen Ross”. Gaylen Ross was one of the stars of the original film.
Zack Snyder plays the last zombie seen at the end of the opening credits.
Scott Frank (Get Shorty) and Michael Tolkin (The Player) did uncredited work on the screenplay.
Be sure to watch through the credits!
Dawn of the Dead (2002) rates 5 of 5 stars
Extinction: The G.M.O. Chronicles (2011)
Director: Niki Drozdowski
Screenplay: Ralf Betz, Niki Drozdowski
Stars: Daniel Buder, Luise Bähr.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When a zombie apocalypse breaks out, Tom makes his way to an abandoned military base. He holes up there as the world falls apart. As time passes, Tom brings in other survivors to his safe haven.
It becomes clear the zombies are mutating. To make matters worse, tensions increase among Tom and the survivors.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I lasted one hour before tapping out.
Extinction: The G.M.O. Chronicles (2011) rates 1 of 5 stars
Has any film influenced a genre and had an impact on movies, television, books, comics, graphic novels, video games and pop culture like George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead? I don’t think so.
Fans of the movie are in for a treat on September 30th when NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is released. Here’s the info…
The official retrospective of one of cinema’s most important films – Night of the Living Dead.
The full story of the first “zombie” movie, the 1968 George A. Romero cult film that denoted the birth of modern horror genre.
Released in 1968, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead revolutionized horror, redefining the zombie subgenre and influencing filmmakers for generations.
This official retrospective tells the full story of how the film was made by a small group of people at the outset of their film-making careers. Interviews with cast and production company members explore the genesis of the movie, from persuading friends and family to become investors, finding the perfect run-down farmhouse in rural western Pennsylvania for the central location, assembling a cast of extras to portray “flesh-eating ghouls”, and the ground-breaking casting of a black actor in a leading role — Duane Jones as Ben — to therough-and-tumble guerilla-style shoot.
The book explores how Night of the Living Dead went from controversial to iconic over the years, gaining critical acclaim and a hardcore cult following. And how zombies — as envisioned by Romero and his co-creators—now permeate everything from video games to literature, all tracing back to the unparalleled original.
Illustrated with movie stills, memorabilia, and unpublished on-set photos never previously seen, and including analysis of the original shooting script annotated by George A. Romero, this book is a must-have for horror fans.
Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024)
Director: Julien Leclercq
Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur”); Jérôme Géronimi (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur” co-written by) (as Jean Clouzot); Georges Arnaud (novel); Hamid Hlioua (scenario); Hamid Hlioua (adaptation) & Julien Leclercq
Stars: Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Sofiane Zermani, Ana Girardot.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When a remote desert oil well catches fire, the only way to extinguish the blaze is to set off a small explosion that will put it out. In less than 24 hours the oil well will explode. If it blows the explosion will be gigantic and kill the local population.
A pair of brothers and a few other mercenaries are paid handsomely to drive two truckloads of highly explosive nitroglycerin to the site. They’re sending two truckloads, because it is unlikely even one truck will make it. With two there might be a chance. Odds against making the journey safely include the speed needed to cover the distance, the rough terrain, bandits and more.
It’s a suicide mission to save a village. Not all will survive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Wages of Fear (2024) is a remake of 1953’s Le Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Fear). In 1977, William Friedkin brought his version, Sorcerer, to the big screen. Both the original and Friedkin’s versions are vastly superior to the latest.
Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Here’s a clip from Silent Zone which premieres March 7th.
Deal me in.
In a zombie-ravaged world, a resourceful teen and her protector fight for survival, facing relentless dangers and testing the limits of hope and loyalty.
CAST: Matt Devere, Luca Papp, Nikolett Barabas
DIRECTOR: Peter Deak
The Woman in the Window (1944)
Director: Fritz Lang
Screenplay: Nunnally Johnson based on ONCE OFF GUARD by J. H. Wallis
Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey, Dan Duryea, Edmund Breon, Thomas E. Jackson, Dorothy Peterson, Arthur Loft, Iris Adrian, George “Spanky” McFarland and Robert Blake.
Tagline: It was the look in her eyes that made him think of murder.
The Plot…
Richard Wanley is a mild-mannered, middle-aged college professor. While his wife and kids are away, Wanley decides to meet some friends at a club. In the store window next to the club is a large painting of a beautiful woman. Wanley stops to admire it before heading into the club.
During a conversation with his friends, the painting is brought up. All of the men agree that the woman is beautiful. At the end of the evening as Wanley leaves the club, he decides to look at the painting one more time. The woman IS beautiful. Wanley is surprised to see a woman watching him stare at the portrait. He is even more surprised to see it is the woman from the painting. Her name is Alice Reed (Bennett).
Wanley and Alice engage in small talk. She invites Wanley to her place for a nightcap. Wanley agrees. As they are talking, a man bursts into the room. The intruder is Alice’s lover who believes Alice is cheating. The man attacks Wanley. In the struggle Wanley kills the man in self-defense.
Wanley and Alice decide the best thing is to dispose of the body and act like nothing ever happened. Of course neither Wanley nor Alice are professional criminals. They make mistakes and leave behind clues. As the police begin to close in, a crooked ex-cop sees an opportunity for blackmail.
Wanley has no idea how to escape this nightmare.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Woman in the Window was nominated for one Academy Award: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Hugo Friedhofer, Arthur Lange
Director Fritz Lang and three of his stars (Edward G. Robinson, Dan Duryea, and Joan Bennett) from The Woman in the Window reteamed in Lang’s next film: Scarlet Street.
George Spanky McFarland and Robert Blake (both former child stars of the Our Gang series) have uncredited cameos. McFarland would not appear in another film until 1986’s The Aurora Encounter (which was his last film appearance).
The original film ending was very bleak. Director Fritz Lang came up with the new ending and the inventive way it was shot.
The Woman in the Window (1944) rates 5 of 5 stars.
SCARECROW RETURNS by Matthew Reilly
First sentence…
The plane hurled down the airstrip, chased by furious machine-gun fire, before it lifted off with a stomach-lurching swoop and soared out over the vast expanse of Artic sea ice that stretched away to the north.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Dragon Island, located near the Artic circle, was a Russian possession. There the best Russian scientists conducted cutting-edge experiments with no guardrails. When Russia collapsed in 1991, so did the program. Since then only a skeleton crew of scientists have lived and worked there.
Until today.
Today, a terrorist group that calls themselves the Army of Thieves let it be known that they have control of the island. They have set in motion something that will literally burn the atmosphere above the USA, Russia and every country along that latitude/longitude. The only way to stop the process is with boots on the ground. Neither Russia nor the US has military ships/planes close enough.
There is one hope. Marine Captain Shane “Scarecrow” Schofield is on site about 100 miles north of Dragon Island. Schofield, a couple of marines and a few civilians have been testing extreme cold weather gear. They could get to the island before the deadline. Once there the odds would be overwhelmingly against their survival, let alone stopping the Army of Thieves.
When there is only one chance to save the world, you take it. Even if it’s a suicide mission.
+++++
Matthew Reilly is the king of page turning nonstop action. His villains are truly evil. Shane “Scarecrow” Schofield although outmanned and outgunned never gives up. Each cliffhanger will push you forward. Reilly shocks and surprises readers with outlandish situations and roller-coaster thrills.
Rating:
