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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.
MPAA Rating: This film has not been rated by the MPAA.
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