Survival of the Dead

Rating: Null/10 (29 October 2016)

Having survived a zombie apocalypse by adhering to a strict set of rules, a timid college student cautiously partners up with a gung-ho fellow survivor and two sisters on the run in this walking dead comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson. The film has amassed a considerable following since its initial release, despite never quite being as funny as 'Shaun of the Dead', the film that inspired it, with Harrelson's energetic performance frequently talked about as a highlight. Solid as Harrelson is though, tinkering between down-to-earth and absolute loose cannon, it is Eisenberg's often deadpan performance and witty narration that makes the film work. He has some simply hilarious moments (casually tossing a swig of alcohol out of a car window so Harrelson does not notice) as well as several amusing observations to make about human interaction and the way society functions. The chemistry between all four main players is really good too, with Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin additionally well cast. The film trips up though by letting Eisenberg ramble on too much about love and his unrequited lust for Stone; some very heavy-handed messages about family and relationships overtake the comedy and horror elements towards the end, causing the film to end on a low note. For the most part though, 'Zombieland' is highly watchable. With zombie attacks kept at a minimum (until the climax), the film unexpectedly succeeds best as an uncanny road trip movie with the characters gradually bonding and learning to appreciate each other along the way.