The Vanguard (2008)

Directed by: Matthew Hope | 90 minutes | action, horror | Actors: Ray Bullock Jr., Jack Bailey, Karen Admiraal, Emma Choy, Terry Cole, Che Conroy, Rob Cooper, Bahi Ghubril, Shiv Grewal, Christopher Hatherall, Martin Hobbs, Farhan Khan, Steve Weston, Simon Whyman, Leigh Stevenson

There’s always something likeable about B-movies from budding filmmakers. In addition, such productions (almost) always give the impression of whether the director in question has talent or can make it in the film industry or whether it remains in the margins when it comes to messing around. Matthew Hope’s ‘The Vanguard’ falls into the first category.

‘The Vanguard’ is about loner Max (Ray Bullock Jr.). The bearded warrior has retreated to a forest after humanity nearly perished in the apocalypse. One of the few survivors, Max fights off a horde of mutated zombies with all his might. Meanwhile, the military is also busy killing those dangerous undead.

You can tell from the start that Hope is ambitious. ‘The Vanguard’ kicks off with a lengthy intro text (à la ‘Star Wars’). That text speaks of an apocalypse and chaos. Once the movie really starts, you’ll see that Hope may have a lot to say, but has no money. The forest is of course a beautiful – and cheap – location, but as soon as the zombies come into view, it is striking how limited the budget was. Cheap make-up and watercolors must pass for wounds and veins, but they don’t look convincing anywhere. The violent scenes also look like they were sponsored by a ketchup manufacturer. Fortunately there was money for lenses, so the monsters still seem somewhat dangerous. Hope also managed to rent an army vehicle, so that the soldiers look reasonably powerful and organized.

Hope manages to create an oppressive atmosphere with few resources. Walking alone through vast meadows gives Max a feeling of loneliness. Especially with a rising sun – and beautiful autumn colors – in the background. ‘The Vanguard’ looks gloomy, sober and melancholic. The fact that the taciturn antihero is not a powerhouse with an extensive arsenal also makes the ambiance oppressive. Any battle could be the last. Max has to fight off the monsters with a set of hand axes, a pointed stake and his reflexes. Guerrilla tactics and a good set of legs are Max’ modus operandi. Bullock acts well and the voice over really adds something, because Max barely speaks (who should he do that with?). The actor mainly acts physically and shows Max’s hunting instinct and athletic abilities beautifully. The soundtrack enhances the desolate atmosphere.

How much you can enjoy ‘The Vanguard’ depends on your forgiveness. The zombies do look very amateurish and the soldiers don’t look very convincing either. If you go over the meager budget, you’ll see an atmospheric zombie film that really needs atmosphere. That atmosphere is definitely there. It’s also great how Hope has managed to motivate his protagonist to such a great acting performance. With more budget, Hope can probably do a lot of great things. Curious how his career will develop further.