Not The Book and Barely a Zombie Film

Rating: 6/10 (21 June 2013)

From the original "Night of the Living Dead" to "28 Days Later," "Shaun of the Dead" and everything in between (and in the future), what hasn't been explored in cinematic Zombiedom. "World War Z" uses smoke and mirrors in an attempt to separate it from the rest... and modestly succeeds.
Swapping the gratuitous gore usually present in this Horror sub-genre for tension, 'Z' scours the globe in search of Patient Zero. Leading the immunological quest is former UN employee Gerry Lane who careers from location to location one bite ahead of the Zombies. Mr. Pitt's understated, thoughtful portrayal is a real plus.
Unlike the book, these 'Zekes' don't feast on flesh. The infected act like individual parts of a large virus with the single-minded goal of replicating. And that they do within twelve seconds of the big bite.
The grim 'Z' wastes no time as Philly is overrun in the first ten minutes. The rest is a good ride: the suspense is palpable; Zombie furor frightening; the set pieces stunning - particularly Jerusalem and the in-flight infection. But film history works against 'Z'. There is a veritable encyclopaedia of Zombie films preceding it. Even though we haven't seen it quite like this before, we've seen it all before.
That makes 'Z' simply a Zombie film with the blood dialed down to nada, adding a dollop of "Contagion," folding in the tired plot point of a man dragooned into service while protecting his family.
The short running time cuts the story to the bone a bit too closely. There's some confusion about Gerry's past while the end is predictable and pavement for a sequel. (Continuing Hollywood's abysmal record of forgetting how to end their films by leaving them open ended in case the film is a hit and sequel worthy.) There was much buzz about re-shoots and drama in the production of "World War Z." It shows.
A no-great-shakes-summer-popcorn film, more thriller than horror, "World War Z" is an enjoyable night at the flicks, but not the rebirth (or re-death) of the Zombie film.
Those who enjoyed the book will find little of it in the film.