{2jtab: Movie Review}

Based on the popular live action role-playing game on college campuses across America, Humans vs Zombies is exactly what it says it is.  Humans.  Versus.  Zombies.  It’s not quite the battle for the ages and - with World War Z still in production and more seasons of The Walking Dead - it’s a bit too early to start clanging the death knell for zombie pictures.  This low-budget scrappy Hannover House release has enough moments of classic B-movie gusto to (just barely) squeak by, but it’s definitely not a “must see” for all you undead enthusiasts out there.

When a virus outbreak washes ashore – brushed aside by a couple of dumb teenagers – as another in a long line of oil spills, people start feeling not quite right in the head.  People stop talking to each other and start biting each other.  Zombies live!  Enter the college students.  Fat ones!  Skinny ones!  An entire sorority house!  Led by the jock (Jesse Ferraro) and the gamer girl (Dora Madison Burge, who is probably the only reason to check this flick out and even she gets annoying), the carefree world of college dorm life gets flipped on its head when the zombie apocalypse turns out to be the real thing.

There isn’t really too much to the script.  It’s just the concept and a "Get your gear!  We’re off with cameras rolling!" attitude.  Deep down inside the H1Z1 viral outbreak, there’s a seriously good movie.  It just didn’t completely make it to the silver screen.  Edits are quick and tight (and sometimes) too loopy to actually construct a scene, but actor direction is a mess.  Some of the quiet moments between these actors are downright boring as hell.  With a no-name cast that includes the campus moderator for Humans vs. Zombies (Jonah Priour), his love interest (Melissa Carnell), a conspiracy theory-obsessed security guard (Frederic Doss), and fat man funny wannabe (Chip Joslin).

There are, however, some interesting shots – bloody handprints on a Humanities sign, a vertigo-inspiring aerial shot of the campus – and a nice twist that is a pleasant discovery.  It concerns Vietnam vets and their resistance to the zombie plague.  Turns out that DDT exposure was a good thing after all.  It’s a great “the meek will inherit the earth” moment that I am not sure the writers - Brian T. Jaynes (also the director) and Devan Sagliani – intended as they barely play it up.

The main problem with Humans vs Zombies is that even the most formulaic aspects of the movie fail to satisfy.  There’s a general messiness to the production that is not there on purpose and, as a result, genuine care for these characters gets washed away as they spout out banality after banality.  No one cares.  The actors looked bored and, as a result, so do the zombies.  With only a couple of good make-up effects and a handful of shoddy others, Humans vs Zombies can’t even get the undead to behave right.

Unfortunately, Humans vs Zombies can’t escape the college campus to be anything but novelty.

{2jtab: Film Details}

MPAA Rating: This film has not been rated by the MPAA.
Director: Brian T. Jaynes
Writer: Brian T. Jaynes, Devan Sagliani
Cast: Madison Burge, Melissa Carnell, Frederic Doss, Chip Joslin, Jonah Priour
Genre: Horror
Tagline: Game on!
Memorable Movie Quote: "I used to believe in fairy tales."
Distributor: Hannover House
Release Date: November 11, 2011 (limited)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 22, 2012

Synopsis: Dark Comedy and Horror unite in this satirical thriller based on the "Live Action Role-Playing" game of the same name. Students on summer break are exposed to a deadly virus that is spread rapidly through direct human contact. The infected become enslaved by the invading "swarm" intelligence and driven by an insatiable appetite to consume human flesh. Returning home, the students spread the infection to their fellow classmates and other unsuspecting townspeople. One by one, more students fall victim to the plague,triggering an epidemic that spawns a horde of ravenous zombies. The zombie horde grows and spreads quickly. Amidst the chaos, a campus security guard,obsessed with conspiracy theories, leads a group of students to safety as they and a small band of uninfected townspeople set out to find other human survivors in an attempt to discover the source of the "zombie" virus and save the world.

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Component Grades Movie Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Experience

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - May 22, 2012
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles: None
Audio: English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD)
Playback: Region A (reviewed)

The MPEG-4 AVC 1080p transfer from Hannover House is a bit weak in the knees.  The colors don’t seem to pop with their familiar magic and, overall, skin tones appear to be more orange than they would naturally.  Yet, there is a fair amount of fine detail picked up in exterior shots.  Shadows aren’t dark enough and, as a result, there seems to be a bit of softening of the images.  Moments of the infected dead running across a field seem to shimmer with crisp greens and bright reds, but then interiors seem dull and unexciting.  There is a nice scene inside a church; however, where swirls of dust are registered by the transfer that makes for some nice additional on-screen detailing.  The sound – presented in a lackluster LPCM 2.0 audio track – is way too quiet and draws only the faintest of interest from its sonic vibrations.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• No

Special Features:

Probably the only thing of interest on this release is the motion comic of Humans vs Zombies.  The motion-comic tells the prequel back-history and ends with a suspenseful, cliff-hanger plot device that is resolved only by watching the actual movie.  It is recommended to begin here with your Humans vs Zombies experience and then watch the movie.  There are some trailers to watch and a stills gallery.  Nothing too fancy, but definitely do watch the motion comic before starting the movie.

• Humans vs Zombies Motion Comic (12 min)
• Still Gallery
• Trailers

{2jtab: Trailer}

{/2jtabs}