Review: Undead (2003)

Directed by: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig | 104 minutes | action, horror, comedy, science fiction | Actors: Felicity Mason, Mungo McKay, Rob Jenkins, Lisa Cunningham, Dirk Hunter, Emma Randall, Steve Grieg, Noel Sheridan, Gaynor Wensley, Eleanor Stillman, Robyn Moore, Robert Jozinovic, Peter Mensforth, Jacob Andriolo, Michele Steel, William John King , Tim Dickenson, Brad Sheriff, Georgia Potter-Cowie, Francesca Arakelian, Kyan Marie Salter, David Whitcomb, Paul Guthrie, Rob Doran, Kristijana Maric, Kathleen McGowan, Chintamani Aked, Steven O’Donnel, Alex Revan

In this Australian production, with the telling title ‘Undead’, in the remote village of Berkeley, most of the inhabitants turn into zombies, by means of crashed meteorites. These zombies too have an eternal hunger for the flesh of the living, so that there seem to be promising zombie scenes at the door. And that is something this film also manages to live up to, although this production is clearly light in nature and it does not always adhere to the traditional rules in the zombie genre.

This soon becomes apparent after the opening scenes. The way in which various victims are hit by the crashing meteorites? The facial expressions of and the way in which a spectator is subsequently decapitated by a zombie? The zombie’s legs that continue to run after his upper body is shot off? These are signs that an overly serious approach is not exactly to be expected. It is something that is also confirmed in subsequent developments. It ensures that it never gets scary nail-biting, or that things do not match in terms of horror content, as is the case in zombie productions with a more serious approach. But in any case, some things are not at the expense of the appearances and performances of the zombies in this story. The zombies look scary to such an extent that in terms of appearance and the threat they convey, they would not look out of place in seriously oriented zombie films. In addition, there are many, they become more and more numerous during the developments in the story and the characters threatened by them have to do everything they can to survive.

The necessary successful action scenes pass by at a brisk pace. Chases, narrow escapes, scares, victims made by the zombies… it is all repeatedly and to a large extent in review. The special effects are also successful with all their gore and splatter: decapitated zombies, zombie heads shot to shreds, zombie bodies shot in half, numerous flying body parts and many related and similar bloody scenes. Nice for enthusiasts, although it never gets too intrusive. Also because of the repeatedly nonsensical one-liners and dialogues that occur and the numerous illogicalities and far-fetches that occur. But they do, combined with the necessary discoveries with regard to how the zombies that appear everywhere are dealt with, ensures that attention is held effortlessly. It does seem that the directors, the brothers Michael and Peter Spierig, want to go into too many directions with their story, which is why things often seem incoherent. Furthermore, for connoisseurs of zombie films, the influences of other productions in this genre are unmistakable. That can of course be taken as a tribute, but although the zombie perils are portrayed successfully enough, it would not have hurt if some things had been more original in this regard. Furthermore, for connoisseurs of zombie films, the influences of other productions in this genre are unmistakable. That can of course be taken as a tribute, but although the zombie perils are portrayed successfully enough, it would not have hurt if some things had been more original in this regard. Furthermore, for connoisseurs of zombie films, the influences of other productions in this genre are unmistakable. That can of course be taken as a tribute, but although the zombie perils are portrayed successfully enough, it would not have hurt if some things had been more original in this regard.

The biggest flaw in this production, however, is the subplot about the aliens that is included and the interference they have with the zombies. It creates the opportunity for some successful special effects and perhaps it is also an attempt by the directors to bring some originality into the story and mix science fiction with horror. But it does not add much to the story, except for the no matter what science fiction fans, but rather appears unnecessary and distracts too much from the previous developments. Nice work by the different actors. Heroes that really appeal to the imagination are not present, the story mainly follows an ever smaller group of people who have to get through the necessary misery. But it is more than compensated for by the acting of the actors who shape this group. Complete with the scattered panicky fuss and the traditional quarrels and quarrels between these characters, which are quite divergent in character. Not that acting performances that are too great or appealing to the imagination have to be expected from the various parties involved, the action and entertainment in this production are clearly paramount. But in that respect, the design of the diverse characters fits in perfectly with the structure of this production. Not that acting performances that are too great or appealing to the imagination have to be expected from the various parties involved, the action and entertainment in this production are clearly paramount. But in that respect, the design of the diverse characters fits in perfectly with the structure of this production. Not that acting performances that are too great or appealing to the imagination have to be expected from the various parties involved, the action and entertainment in this production are clearly paramount. But in that respect, the design of the diverse characters fits in perfectly with the structure of this production.

All in all, it makes this ‘Undead’, especially for the low budget that was available for it, into a B-zombie film that was successful in most parts. One that does not take itself very seriously, has a somewhat nonsensical plot and here and there a bit confused but which nevertheless has more than enough to offer for comedy and horror fans.