As a giant fan of zombie cinema, I'll be the first to admit that most recent genre entries have been terrible. I'd chalk this up to how the focus has shifted away from the more thought provoking themes explored in the classics like Dawn of the Dead (1978), and instead been placed almost entirely on the gore and other superficial "jump-scare" type horror elements. That said, I'm happy to report that this streak has now been broken, and with entertaining style. Army of the Dead is a super fun movie, and pretty good. Sure the film has its flaws. Tonally it's all over the place, and it's poorly paced/edited (every scene plays out much too long). There are a plethora of plot holes and major contrivances (such as the questionable logic surrounding the necessity of the heist itself XD), the concept is much better than the execution, and it squanders a bit too much of its potential to be a truly great movie. However, Zack Snyder's heart is in the right place, and overall Army does deliver the hectic and gory fun that the trailer promises, toying with just enough political/social commentary and broader ideas to satiate most reasonable and patient zombie cinephiles. IMO the film also manages to thread the needle between genres like Romero used to do; working efficiently both as an action vehicle and horror/heist hybrid, and the opening sequence is enough to put a grin on even the most cynical viewer's face, as it's hilariously over-the-top and ludicrous in the most delightful way. Perhaps best of all, however, is the way the movie actually manages to feel like a thematic continuation of Romero's classic original trilogy. In fact, between this and his highly enjoyable, although still far inferior, 2004 remake of Dawn, Snyder is really building a case for himself as arguably the most compelling and qualified successor to the throne of zombie filmmaking (certainly the one most inclined anyway). Sure there isn't that much competition. Who at all aside from Danny Boyle and Edgar Wright? And while admittedly these may be far better filmmakers, they don't seem to share the same passion/devotion that Snyder does for the genre. So Zack may still have a lot too prove, but after experiencing the sheer fun and energy of this film (flaws notwithstanding), I'm definitely excited to see him keep trying!
To start, while Army of the Dead boasts many of the hallmarks of the George Romero classics, including fun social commentary, class conflict, and a diverse set of mostly no-name actors and a kick-ass black dude who (SPOILER) outlasts most everyone else, it still boasts a relatively original concept. It even introduces several elements I'd never seen before in the genre, such as the zombie tiger prominent in the marketing. The closest comparison I can think to make is that it in many ways evokes James Cameron's Aliens (in fact, if I'm being totally honest it might borrow a little too much from Aliens). Both are sequels that build upon the original (in this case I'd call 2004's Dawn the original, even if it's perhaps only connected in spirit), but then forge their own paths by broadening the scope and upping the anti. The films also share many similar themes, such as utilitarian government corruption, selfishness and cowardice leading to losses, frequent double-crossing, and constantly shifting power dynamics which converge to elevate premises built around interspecies conflict and survival (oh, and there's even a small moment in the new film's opening that plays with the idea that the zombies may be of alien origin XD). Of course it goes without saying that Aliens pulls this stuff off better on all accounts. Also interesting though, is that rather than falling back on a deadly virus, voodoo, or witchcraft as the explanation for the outbreak, Snyder's film instead keeps the nature of the threat more ambiguous (apart from the aforementioned first scene). This approach to the undead is a good example of the how it provides a refreshingly ambitious spin on the genre. By daring to make the zombies more mysterious, intelligent, organized, and even hierarchical (and not simply slow and mindless), Snyder is able to generate an ominous tone around the creatures once it's made clear that they're not just your typical run-of-the-mill zombies. While obviously a gamble, it was a worthwhile one, as it shifts the style and pacing of the film to something more akin to a serious war flick, with higher stakes and somewhat realistic strategizing (such as hostage taking, stealth, negotiation, etc.). Better still, by tackling the genre from this untapped angle, and establishing such an elaborate, "lived-in" post-apocalyptic setting, the writers also free themselves up to go in all sorts of new creative directions in the future. This level of promise is what excites me most about the film and any potential follow-ups, and I really hope they capitalize on its (likely) success by continuing to take risks and go all out for future installments. The execution could of course be improved, but I think that if they aim for this than it might just have the potential to become a Bond-esque series, and get remade/reimagined anew every decade. It's high time the Zombie genre was given some new life, and I'll be supporting Snyder so long as he's trying new things.
Ultimately, Army clearly stands out as the first action/horror film in awhile which isn't afraid to take some risks and at least aim for originality. Zack Snyder must have some sort of green card in Hollywood also, because the budget feels enormous for a concept so bloated and experimental (which is awesome!). It all mostly comes together and pays off too, resulting in a satisfyingly engaging, frequently surprising, and ever kinetic thrill-ride, filled with an ample amount of fun twists and turns (even if more often than not these are predictable or don't totally make sense). I have little doubt that Army of the Dead will do wonders regardless, and as far as re-popularizing the more serious zombie flick (which we nearly lost due to garbage like The Walking Dead), I have high hopes that it'll come out a winner. So congrats Mr. Snyder! Despite never really being all that impressed by your DC movies, you've certainly earned my fandom with this one, and I'm now eagerly awaiting what other surprises you've got for us. Bring on Army of the Dead Parts 2 & 3!
TLDR - Don't miss this one. It's not perfect, but it's easily the most innovative and fun zombie film in ages, and though it doesn't fully live up to its potential, it's still a blast and absolutely deserves its own series. 7.3/10.
To start, while Army of the Dead boasts many of the hallmarks of the George Romero classics, including fun social commentary, class conflict, and a diverse set of mostly no-name actors and a kick-ass black dude who (SPOILER) outlasts most everyone else, it still boasts a relatively original concept. It even introduces several elements I'd never seen before in the genre, such as the zombie tiger prominent in the marketing. The closest comparison I can think to make is that it in many ways evokes James Cameron's Aliens (in fact, if I'm being totally honest it might borrow a little too much from Aliens). Both are sequels that build upon the original (in this case I'd call 2004's Dawn the original, even if it's perhaps only connected in spirit), but then forge their own paths by broadening the scope and upping the anti. The films also share many similar themes, such as utilitarian government corruption, selfishness and cowardice leading to losses, frequent double-crossing, and constantly shifting power dynamics which converge to elevate premises built around interspecies conflict and survival (oh, and there's even a small moment in the new film's opening that plays with the idea that the zombies may be of alien origin XD). Of course it goes without saying that Aliens pulls this stuff off better on all accounts. Also interesting though, is that rather than falling back on a deadly virus, voodoo, or witchcraft as the explanation for the outbreak, Snyder's film instead keeps the nature of the threat more ambiguous (apart from the aforementioned first scene). This approach to the undead is a good example of the how it provides a refreshingly ambitious spin on the genre. By daring to make the zombies more mysterious, intelligent, organized, and even hierarchical (and not simply slow and mindless), Snyder is able to generate an ominous tone around the creatures once it's made clear that they're not just your typical run-of-the-mill zombies. While obviously a gamble, it was a worthwhile one, as it shifts the style and pacing of the film to something more akin to a serious war flick, with higher stakes and somewhat realistic strategizing (such as hostage taking, stealth, negotiation, etc.). Better still, by tackling the genre from this untapped angle, and establishing such an elaborate, "lived-in" post-apocalyptic setting, the writers also free themselves up to go in all sorts of new creative directions in the future. This level of promise is what excites me most about the film and any potential follow-ups, and I really hope they capitalize on its (likely) success by continuing to take risks and go all out for future installments. The execution could of course be improved, but I think that if they aim for this than it might just have the potential to become a Bond-esque series, and get remade/reimagined anew every decade. It's high time the Zombie genre was given some new life, and I'll be supporting Snyder so long as he's trying new things.
Ultimately, Army clearly stands out as the first action/horror film in awhile which isn't afraid to take some risks and at least aim for originality. Zack Snyder must have some sort of green card in Hollywood also, because the budget feels enormous for a concept so bloated and experimental (which is awesome!). It all mostly comes together and pays off too, resulting in a satisfyingly engaging, frequently surprising, and ever kinetic thrill-ride, filled with an ample amount of fun twists and turns (even if more often than not these are predictable or don't totally make sense). I have little doubt that Army of the Dead will do wonders regardless, and as far as re-popularizing the more serious zombie flick (which we nearly lost due to garbage like The Walking Dead), I have high hopes that it'll come out a winner. So congrats Mr. Snyder! Despite never really being all that impressed by your DC movies, you've certainly earned my fandom with this one, and I'm now eagerly awaiting what other surprises you've got for us. Bring on Army of the Dead Parts 2 & 3!
TLDR - Don't miss this one. It's not perfect, but it's easily the most innovative and fun zombie film in ages, and though it doesn't fully live up to its potential, it's still a blast and absolutely deserves its own series. 7.3/10.