Review of World War Z (2013) by Joanna B — 24 Oct 2016

When seemingly normal Philadelphia traffic turns into an avalanche of chaos from exploding vehicles to trampling zombies, former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) must find a way to get his wife (Mirelle Enos) and two daughters (Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove) to safety.

As the zombie pandemic consumes the world; toppling armies, disbanding governments and threatening to decimate humanity in its entirety, Gerry is called on to leave his family and traverses the globe with doctors of the World Health Authority in search of information on the source of the outbreak.

Like 28 days later and Contagion, World War Z is not your usual mindless zombie flick. Delving into the nature of human response to epidemic threat, this deftly tackled post-apocalyptic horror-thriller from director Marc Foster based on Max Brooks' 2006 novel of the same name, establishes the story's magnitude and relevance from the outset through a unique angle.

Delayed for release on numerous occasions due to re-writes, test receptions and scene retakes, WWZ boasts a surprisingly good script that resonates with reliability though its hero's journey with scale, style and bite, props to the writers for an imaginative manipulation of the genre.

Although they combine to accentuate the films sense of panic, it is easy to separate the best and worst elements of this film. A testament to the advances in its arena the CGI work is simply exceptional, whilst a physical assault on the eyes and gag reflex, the tediously frenetic hand-held camera work would have been shot clearer from the inside or a blender on puree and its knock-on effect to editing and sound effects is just as apparent.

Grounding the film as the calm in a crisis heroic protagonist, Pitt reminds us exactly why he is one of the world's biggest stars, conveying every anguished detail with the slightest movement of his skilled features. The stellar supporting cast are brilliant in so many ways, from creative choices to dramatic candour, they genuinely add value.

As horror's are to want, the cardboard cut-out looking zombies are rarely seen close up until a plot crucial face to desiccated face confrontation where thing just get sticky. The constant fall of countries and changing locations add to the film overarching scale of destruction, while scenes in confined quarters (without giving it away, like Snakes on a plane this film would never qualify for in-flight viewing) add to a palpable sense of panic.

The Verdict: From The Walking Dead to Warm Bodies, zombie based storylines are obviously the in-thing for 20teen's and are rapidly approaching saturation point. Honestly, how much empathy can an audience be expected to have with the least cuddly undead? even if tasty-treat Brad Pitt is on offer.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 21/06/2013.