Review of Cell (2016) by Mickey R — 29 Jun 2016

Disregarding the fact that the two leads in this film are among my most favorite actors, this attempt at the zombie genre fell short, in so much as a zombie flm, but perhaps does hold a redemptive quality for its social significance.

The zombies in CELL are transformed by and forever attached to their phones. The literalness of which, I feel is too simplistic a device to shove in your face throughout the film, with waning believability as the film progresses to its end. A McGuffin who's impact dies long too early in the plot like a Shyamalan hollow premise, though the performances of both Cusack and Jackson keep you in til the hokey, King end. The two, as well as the entirety of humanity are surely stratified by generation, as we are as a society - the youngest and oldest are least likely to turn, but fall as easy prey to the growing swarm either being torn to shreds or joining the "bad" side.

Of course, where would the film be without another of King's dead ends of the enemy having a face that all the survivors had dreamed about. OOOH OOGA BOOGA. It was surely the story that weakens this film, though admittedly, I have not read the book, and don't venture towards King as I had long ago.