Zombie Killers is the latest from writer/director Harrison Smith and the movie starts off in an already established world where zombies have taken over and people have to fight to survive. The movie focuses on the town of Elwood, a fenced off safe haven seemingly in the middle of the country and far from any city where all the characters live. The location was well chosen for the film as it conveys the sense of people both adjusting to a new way of life (without modern technology or electricity) and the possibility of having to start over as a civilization. Like in his previous effort (Camp Dread), Smith tackles common horror movie tropes with tongue in cheek as one character determines out loud that there's no way the shoddy fences around the community will hold up if a number of zombies pushed up against it.
And that is exactly why the movie worked for me and why I had such a good time watching it: it is a self aware movie where the characters know they are dealing with zombies because they've all seen zombie movies. It's this not overly serious tone that makes the movie fun to watch, these are still real people with real personalities still stuck in the modern world they were once a part of. Watching these characters interact with each other in this new world taken over by zombies is like witnessing a group of friends live gaming Left 4 Dead over their X-Box 360's. The not overly serious tone feels real as the characters seem to still be adjusting and perhaps still in denial.
All of that is not to say the movie doesn't offer a little serious social commentary. The cause of the zombies is said to be a possible side effect of fracking and the community has an inner struggle regarding religion. The outspoken leader of the religious faction (Felissa Rose, channeling the expressionless fervor of Angela from Sleepaway Camp) demands that the group turn to God for protection while shunning those who feel as though God is not there to save them. It raises the debate of God's plan Vs. free will.
Other highlights of Zombie Killers include zombie deer and fish. Animal zombies have always been lacking in the zombie genre and it was cool to finally some in a movie. Some viewers may balk at the obvious and outdated CGI used to create these zombie animals as it looks like something out of a PlayStation 2 video game. However, this is low budget horror and I won't hold that against the filmmakers. I'll save that for $50 million dollar Hollywood productions that still look like crap. You either get the zombie animals in this one or you don't, and given the films resources, I credit Smith for including them.
Billy Zane and Gabrielle Stone are standouts amongst the cast. Zane is perfect at pulling of the cocky/charming leader of the Zombie Killers and Stone comes off as very genuine as the love interest of the films unlikely hero played by Michael Keane. Stone also has fantastic facial expressions later on during the movies climax.
What didn't work for me was the casting of Michael Keane in the main role. I felt as though he was miscast. His character has a dying mother (the fantastic Dee Wallace) and questions a lot of what is going on in Elwood and his inner struggle didn't seem to come through in any way other than his dialogue. He also can't quite overcome his distractingly boyish looks when assuming the position of leader of the group. His looks aren't his fault and I'm sure they'll work well in other roles, but here in Zombie Killers they seem first and foremost before ability.
Overall I had a great time watching Zombie Killers and would say if your looking for a fun zombie movie that throws some different ideas into the very crowded genre then definitely give it a watch.
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