Zombieland's Genius

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2019)

Almost ten years have passed since Zombieland was released and it still holds up as well as it did in 2009. Zombieland did so many things right and experimented on so many levels, it surprises me that the film didn't just come off as clunky or awkward. I call Zombieland experimental because it tries to fit into three very different and not necessarily compatible genres. These genres being adventure, horror, and comedy. I've heard of good horror adventures, good comedic horror, and great adventure comedies, but all three of these genres are very rarely paired together. Almost never put together as well as Zombieland. This movie doesn't even take a soft approach on either three of its main genres. The whole plot follows the classic trope of the hero's journey. This trope is when a hero must leave home, begin their adventure, experience a major low, pull themselves up, and walk away stronger. In Zombieland all four major characters leave there have to leave their homes with hopes of either returning or finding a new one. All four characters meet each other before breaking up. The breakup representing Columbus's and Tallahassee's low. While, Wichita and Little Rock's low comes when they get trapped on a ride in an amusement park. After the girls are saved and the group reunites the team walks away stronger. This plot structure marks Zombieland as being an adventure movie in its truest sense. Then there's the horror aspect of the movie. The movie has gore absolutely everywhere. From the zombies, to the dead animals, and the brutal destruction of said zombies, Gore cannot be missed in this film. There's also the threatened norm trope Zombieland. That trope embodies itself in the literal apocalypse the world of Zombieland is and the threatened norm of the team's friendship on the level of the characters. Finally, the third horror trope Zombieland plays on is the fragility of humans. This trope gloriously manifests itself in short but, impactful role played by the one and only Bill Murray. Bill Murray is brought in suddenly and is instantly one of the most likeably parts of the whole film. Just to see the legend himself snuffed out in an accidental shooting indirectly caused by an antisocial college kid and a twelve-year-old. Between the three indisputably horror tropes seen in Zombieland, I can again say that this movie doesn't just fall into the horror category, it absolutely keeps within its boundaries throughout. The final genre Zombieland completely goes all out in is comedy. To a lot of people Zombieland is considered to be primarily a comedy. The film uses well established comedy actors like Bill Murray and early Emma stone to establish a familiar comedic line up. There isn't more than a five-minute stunt without a genuinely good joke made. The characters are given odd names to give the horrific setting a less serious tone. Tallahassee's story arc partially revolves around his quest to find a twinkie. With that amount of lighthearted jokes and plot points Zombieland couldn't not be described as a comedy. Overall Zombieland doesn't just fit into three very different genres, it masterfully fulfils the expectations of all three.