Synopsis:
ARMY OF THE DEAD takes place following a zombie outbreak that has left Las Vegas in ruins and walled off from the rest of the world. When Scott Ward (Dave Bautista), a former zombie war hero who’s now flipping burgers on the outskirts of the town he now calls home, is approached by casino boss Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada), it’s with the ultimate proposition: break into the zombie-infested quarantine zone to retrieve $200 million sitting in a vault beneath the strip before the city is nuked by the government in 32 hours. With little left to lose, Ward takes on the challenge, assembling a ragtag team of experts for the heist. With a ticking clock, a notoriously impenetrable vault, and a smarter, faster horde of Alpha zombies closing in, only one thing’s for certain in the greatest heist ever attempted: survivors take all.
Money can make people do crazy things. When you’ve been without it and then an abundance of it is dangled in front of you, you may just do anything to get it. What if you have to put your life on the line in order to do so? Money can change your life, fix some issues, and oftentimes simply complicate things more. Nevertheless, most of us are probably going to take the risk when the zeros and commas begin to multiply. Then add family and love into it and there’s no question whether or not you would risk your life for the loot. While some may do it for nobler reasons, others will do it because life is boring and they need a thrill and some for greed. We’ve seen vaults pull from banks by cars, elaborate inside jobs, and holes dug through elderly women’s basements, but what if your money was deep inside a building that’s inside a walled-off city that is overrun by thousands of undead people and a Joe Exotic love animal? Are you still in?
“It’s not too late to go back.”
A big-money heist plus flesh-fiending zombies equal a damn good time in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead. While this is not the first zombie film to host this title, it does stand alone in many aspects. Not relying on your typical outbreak premise, Snyder gives us a creative new story that still holds onto most traditional undead lore. With emotional components that fall into the same vein as TWD yet still not taking itself too seriously, the fun they had making this directly translates into the fun you’ll have watching it. The government having a hand in the outbreak is entertaining and topical and the distinction between the different levels of zombies is entertaining as well. The latter also adds some very welcome and unforeseen complications that keep you on your toes. And I love a story where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.
The production design is fantastic, I loved the entire aesthetic everyone looked badass. Well, except Dieter. The soundtrack is great and couple that with cool cinematography, awesome gore, and some explosive action and you’ve got something memorable. If that doesn’t do it for you then maybe the zombie tiger will. It is a bit long but as I said before, it has an actual story to tell. I would love a sequel. There is so much that can be elaborated and expanded upon. I enjoyed Army of the Dead a great deal. It’s definitely worth a watch. Its rewatchability is high.
Plot & Pace
After a zombie invasion infects Las Vegas only a small number were able to escape with the help of some brave individuals. Those same individuals who were touted as heroes during the rescue are shortly forgotten afterward. When a seedy businessman seeks out Scott, the man who leads the rescue, offers him a dangerous yet intriguing job with a huge payout. Scott must put together a team and extract millions of dollars from the zombie-ridden Las Vegas he had already escaped from once before. Teaming up with old old friends and some new faces, Scott is confident that the job is doable. However, these zombies aren’t your normal mindless flesh eaters and this mission may not be exactly what they expect.
As it is with most zombie films, the pacing is up and down. Since there are thousands of brain-biters and only a handful of humans, you’re not going to get nonstop action. However, the film has a healthy balance of high-intensity action and human moments that flow organically together.
Characters & Chemistry
These kinds of films always have fun casts. Each character has a specific skill and with that skill comes a unique personality. Dave Bautista improves and impresses with each new role he scores. I really enjoyed what he did in this film as Scott Ward. This physical stuff comes naturally but his emotional range is making him a bonafide leading man. Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick) is probably the coolest and coolest looking character. I mean look at that saw, it screams, I don’t mess around. And Tig Notaro’s character Marianne Peters is another one of my favorites. She’s here for the money and I’m here for the funny. The chemistry between the entire cast that is a part of this heist group grows as the film moves along. Since most haven’t worked together before or even know each other, there are some growing pains to overcome before they start gelling.
Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix. Stay safe and enjoy.
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Zack Snyder, Shay Hatten, Joby Harold
Producers: Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller, Zack Snyder
Executive Producers: Bergen Swanson
Rated: R
Runtime: 2h 28m
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
