Review of The Dead (2010) by Ryan M — 05 Jun 2012

THE DEAD is a fresh yet somewhat plodding zombie film based in the wide expanse of Africa. From the lesser-known writer/director team the Ford Brothers, THE DEAD is an efficient horror film when it comes to delivering the zombie attacks and realistic gore along with believable characters. The narrative flounders from location A to location B and so forth without much substance, however.

The constant threat of zombie attacks does create good suspense, but on the other hand the zombie attacks begin to feel repetitive and the immersion factor gradually fades away. It doesn't help matters that the pacing fluctuates from a solid, fast pace when the zombies come in to a plodding, boring pace when there is no dialogue present and the characters just move/drive towards the next point.

THE DEAD has the honor of being the first zombie film to shoot anywhere in Africa, for whatever reason why. The Ford Brothers have brought a new take the undead genre with a new setting and requisitely gory zombie attacks and their aftermaths in parallel to the continent's recent and past massacres from disease and war. There were openings for direct social commentary in THE DEAD, but the Ford Brothers smartly and safely downplayed the commentary in order for the social commentary parallels to be implicated for the viewer's own interpretation instead of directly preached at the viewer instead.

Efficient scripting can also be found through the film's believable characters, whose motivations for living are slightly more complex than saving others or holding out hope for their loved ones to still be alive. The camerawork captures some nice and recurring moments, from the gorgeous sunsets and even zombie feet shuffling by an object of interest or right by a hidden character in panning movements.

When it comes to narrative, however, THE DEAD is slim pickings. The narrative barely moves beyond the partnership between the film's protagonist, an American flight engineer, and his new-found survivor buddy Daniel, who left the area's militants to find his son after his home village was attacked. Still, there is no real narrative arcs in the story, except for two key scenes. Besides these, the story still maintains the point A-point B mentality that can be distract from the engaging partnership between the two survivors.

The American has a family back home, and so this mutual connection of family he and Daniel both feel tied to drives them forward. The characters' motivations for staying alive is hope, hope in their families and for their lives. This is what can keep a viewer watching, and it did so for me. Even though the actor playing the American was very stiff and only so often emotive, the actor playing Daniel fit the part just right and I could root/sympathize for his characters' plight and journey. There is closure at the end as well, in a sense.

In summary, THE DEAD is an efficient zombie horror film featuring plenty of zombie attacks and realistic gore to satisfy horror fans while also displaying believable characters whose motivations are clear and hopeful, all in the new setting for the genre in Africa. The Ford Brothers camerawork is swift and creative, but the somewhat plodding pace, a few instances of bad editing, and the point A-point B mentality of the barely-there story hinder THE DEAD from being an excellent zombie film. As mentioned before, it is efficient, and I suppose that will be enough for horror fans to make a cult favorite out of it.