Review of Z for Zachariah (2015) by James R — 27 Mar 2016

Ann Burden (Margot Robbie) is living up in the hills by herself safe from the radiated world. She lives on a farm, makes her own food, keeps her house clean and prays daily. She's also absolutely bored and super lonely.

That all changes when one day John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor) comes into Ann's area. He accidentally swims in some contaminated water which leads to radiation poisoning. Ann nurses him back to health eventually and the two get along.

John is a smart man, but he also has some violent tendencies (especially after drinking). After being together for a bit another man named Caleb (Chris Pine) comes to Ann's spot. Caleb is a slightly younger male who has much more in common with Ann.

John see's the two and eventually get's a bit jealous himself of the entire situation. The movie is a drama to the max. It's slow paced and the main focus isn't even survival in the apocalypse, but a love triangle that kinda works.

Robbie does a great job as the lead and both of her interactions with Ejiofor and Pine are really well done. Unfortunately, this movie has close to nothing to do with the book of the same name! I read the book back in middle school and remember it pretty vividly.

This movie could almost have been named something entirely different. It's well acted, but I found the overall outcome pretty disappointing after it was all said and done. It's a solid rent if the premise interests you at all.