Review: Warm Bodies / Cert: 12 / Director: Jonathan Levine / Screenplay: Jonathan Levine / Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich / Release Date: June 17th
R (Hoult) is a zombie. He eats brains like any other self-respecting zombie, but he’s conflicted about it. He spends his days milling around an airport with other dead-heads, avoiding the Boneys – decomposed skeletal beings who have no issues with devouring anyone with a heartbeat.
On a shamble around town, R and a group of zombies run into a group of survivors scavenging for supplies. During the inevitable face off, R eats the brains of Perry, Julie’s (Palmer’s) boyfriend. As a result, R digests Perry’s memories and finds himself protecting Julie and hiding her from his buddies. He takes her back to the airport and keeps her “protected” in one of the planes. As their dalliance continues, R begins to find his humanity again. His heart begins to beat and he discovers that he can talk. This causes a problem for R as the Boneys begin to notice his new-found affection for life. The other zombies also start to realise the same thing and begin to feel again. It all ends up with the survivors teaming up with the zombies to snuff out the Boney threat and live happily ever after.
Wait, what?
A zombie film where a zombie and a live female fall in love? And everyone’s okay with this? If the film had decided to take a comic route with the subject matter, then it could have worked. There are a couple of moments that will help you smirk, but this is no Shaun of the Dead. Instead, we get a messed up Shakespearian (think about the names of the main protagonists) love story – hell, there’s even a balcony scene! The Boneys appear to be rejects from I Am Legend, and the happy ending just doesn’t feel right.
How can a zombie come back to life and fight the urge to devour flesh and brains? How can human survivors, battling for years against the inhuman threat, suddenly trust the zombies and work alongside them? Is this film just a set-up to a necrophiliac’s dream? Well, thanks to the Twilight saga, another horror monster trope has been diluted for a teenage girl’s fantasy. So be warned, unless you are a female under 18 years of age, go watch Romero’s classic trilogy instead. You’ll be much more satisfied.
Extras: Features / Gag Reel / Deleted Scenes / Audio Commentary
