D.Mason's Franklin University Review

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2017)

Dominic Mason
12/09/2017
Zombieland
(2009)
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writers: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick
Actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
Cinematography: Michael Bonvillain

Zombieland (2009)
Ruben Fleischer's 2009 film, "Zombieland" takes place in a zombie apocalyptic era. The film brings characters Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) together in this epic journey of survival while discovering trust, friendship and courage for one another. Columbus is a shy, humble teen on a journey to find and located his separated family in Ohio. Tallahassee, the weapons expert is on a mission to have the wonderful taste of a Twinkie in his mouth one last time. Wichita and Little Rock are sisters that are left to fend for themselves. Wichita mission is to take her sister Little Rock to an amusement park. Filled with trust issues, this film leads to many comic twists as all 4 members travel across zombie occupied America to complete their journeys.
After reviewing this film there are many themes that correlate with this film. This is a horror/ comedy that focus on discovery through transformation, adventure and the quest. Many zombie filled movies would be considered horror, but due to the dialogue of the characters the film turns comedic quickly. The 4 main characters are all on a quest for individual's task, but find themselves having to work past their personal and trust issues to survive and save one another. The different cameras angles help add to the suspense of the film. The high angle shots add suspension by making the characters look vulnerable and powerless. The addition of panning and different scenes also helps with suspension by making the character seems as if they were being watched or followed. While the dialogue plays a major factor to the comedic aspect of the film the lighting ties into the horror aspect of the film. An example of this would be when Columbus is shown in the camera with a black (outside) background with minimal sources of light. This example adds to the suspense and horror of the film. This example involves using low-key light to produce the desired effect. Two films that correlate this horror and comedy theme would be Edgar Wright's 2004 Shaun of the Dead and Andrew Currie's 2007 film, Fido.
Overall, Zombieland is a great horror/ comedy movie. This film will have the viewer on the edge of their seat from the horror and action, at the same time it will have them laughing from the witty dialogue. Great film, only thing left is a sequel!

References
Boggs, J. M., & Petrie, D. W. (2012). The art of watching films (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9780073386171 (print), 9780077379728 (e-text)
Kellison. C, Morrow. D & Morrow. K, (2017), The Basics of Lighting, Masteringfilm.com