Thoughts About Zombieland

For fans of the zombie film genera, it doesn’t get much better than Zombieland. It contains definitely more comedic elements than survival horror, and it does the one thing right that was crucial for it’s success: It doesn’t take itself too seriously — or seriously at all for that matter.

The movie follows the life of a nerdy college student who has managed to keep himself alive during and after the zombie apocalypse thanks to a set of rules he’s created, and follows religiously. His travels introduce him to Tallahassee, (Woody Harrelson) a fellow survivor on a quest to find a twinky. Yes, the snack cake. The two of them team up and eventually meet some fellow survivors, two sisters with serious trust issues. From this point on the movie takes a quasi-predicable turn down a road where the ladies have to be rescued and the hero saves the day.

Woody Harrelson made the movie as the zombie hunting Tallahassee. He perfectly portrays someone who not only seems to be enjoying the end of the world, but also finding pleasure in devising as many ways as possible to kill the living dead. Harrelson was so into his role that shortly after the shooting of Zombieland wrapped up, he reportedly punched a reporter who was running up to him claiming he “thought he was a zombie”. (source) You can’t fake that kind of dedication.

It’s also worth noting that Zombieland contains the best Bill Murray cameo ever. Seeing Bill Murray dressed as a zombie, dressed as a Ghostbuster, recreating scenes from the movie is a riot.

If I had to say something bad about the movie it would be that it follows the same predicable path as every other zombie movie you’ve ever seen… ever. However, it’s done with such style and entertainment value that you don’t even care. Fans of zombie movies should see this movie. Fans of dark comedies should see this movie. Anybody who isn’t put off by zombies should see this movie. It’s just that good. My final verdict: 8.5/10.

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