Sam and Mattie have a lot in common – they both love movies, skateboarding and pro wrestling, share the same wicked and sometimes very un-PC sense of humour, and possess insane amounts of charisma. They also both have Down’s syndrome, although that’s never focused on in the documentary – they’re just two regular dudes who want to hang out and do something creative. Sam and Mattie Make A Zombie Movie follows what happens when Sam’s brother discovers the pair’s ambition to make their very own movie; with a bit of help from their friends and family and a successful crowdfunding campaign that attracts a generous response from the local community and a handful of notable names, their dream becomes reality and Spring Break Zombie Massacre is born…
During the first half of the documentary, we see the boys making plans, holding court during production meetings and taking advice from Hollywood stalwarts like director Peter Farrelly (Dumb And Dumber, There’s Something About Mary) and special effects wizard Tony Gardner (Zombieland, Seed of Chucky), as well as coercing Jersey Shore‘s Pauly D to take part in the final movie. The eventual premiere is a roaring success, and the finished version of Spring Break Zombie Massacre is included here in its entirety, albeit interrupted a few times with behind the scenes anecdotes and additional bits of back-story.
SBZM is a crazy story about two half-brothers whose mothers were killed by the devil just after they were born. When the time comes for them to leave home for college, their father gives them bionic implants which ultimately gives them the edge over the devil, who is hell-bent on ruining the boys’ spring break (and, for some reason, also seems to really enjoy piddling into and onto anything and everything). The set-up tends to veer all over the place for the first 10 minutes or so, but when it all kicks off and Mattie bursts into the hallway with a shotgun in hand you’ll swear it’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen, and the following 30 minutes or so take you on one of the wildest, most absurd and infectiously enjoyable rides you’re likely to find.
Something of a spiritual successor to 1999’s How’s Your News? (in which a group of people with mental and physical disabilities turn their summer camp news-style project into a full-on road trip across the USA), the story of how everything comes together for Sam and Mattie is one of hope, optimism, warmth, friendliness and fun, and the film that emerges from their determination and punk as fuck independent spirit is an absolute scream to witness. It’s also probably the only time you’ll ever hear of anyone having such a nice dinner that they experience a “burritogasm”, which surely makes it one to watch!
Sam & Mattie Make A Zombie Movie is available now on Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNow and Vimeo
