Written by Tom Moore
Now, before I get to the movie, this review needs to start with a quick apology. Just to take a quick peek behind the curtain, my showing at an NYC AMC theater (I won’t get too specific) included a Live Q & A with lead actress, Ella Hunt. However, I couldn’t stay because I wanted to get home at a reasonable time and bus schedules can be cruel. So, I left once the credits started to roll. As I left, though, I ran into Hunt just as she was coming into the theater and instead of saying anything, I sadly let the moment awkwardly pass. So I apologize, Ella Hunt, for not outwardly telling you, face-to-face, how incredibly amazing Anna and the Apocalypse truly is.
The movie perfectly combines the horrifying gore of zombies, the fun comedy seen in parody films like Scary Movie and Shaun of the Dead, and some catchy musical tunes. Never in my life would I have thought that I would see a zombie musical be as beautifully hilarious as this film is.
This Scottish film follows a group of teens as they attempt to survive a zombie apocalypse that has afflicted their small town right around the holidays. However, this film is much more comedy than horror and some infectious songs bleed into the plot, making a zombie film that makes you sway to the beat when watching.
Anna (Hunt) and the rest of her friends basically come off like some of the typical character tropes we’ve seen in both musicals and zombie movies. Anna is your typical angst-filled teen who is seeking to escape issues in her hometown, John (Malcolm Cumming) is her best-friend who secretly loves her, Steph (Sarah Swire) is the girl not many people like, Nick (Ben Wiggins) is the guy no one likes, and Chris (Christopher Leveaux) and Lisa (Marli Siu) are the couple.
However, while I found them to just be tropes at first, their fun and vivacious personalities bleed into the film every time a song kicks on. This was especially true for Anna and John, as their relationship can come off as typical at first and it made it feel like a bit of drag. However, the second that “Turning My Life Around” came on, a more fun side of Anna and John is shown and it really solidifies why these two have such a strong friendship. Also, seeing them dance around and sing while zombies wreak havoc around them was absolutely hilarious.
The zombies also bring some comedy with some great reactions and being a part of some excellently gruesome kills. They don’t start singing or dancing or anything like that, but seeing them react to tinsel and be distracted by TV makes them feel a little more unique. Not to mention, there’s some great zombie kills seen throughout the film and a song even dedicated to bringing some great kills.
Other songs, like “It’s that Time of Year” and “Hollywood Ending” add some great comedic moments that rival some of the best parts of a Scary Movie comedy, in all of the right ways. The film will undoubtedly cause roaring laughter as it cuts to hilarious moments throughout each song. Like any good Christmas song, the music of Anna and the Apocalypse is truly infectious and will have you hearing in your head till the holidays are over. Also, if we can see both Hunt and Paul Kaye’s Savage perform “Give Them a Show” with zombies on the Oscars stage, that would be just lovely.
Frankly, one the best things about Anna and the Apocalypse is that it’s actually a solid Christmas movie and not just because of the aesthetics or timing. The zombie genre has always tackled the idea of loneliness and being away from family and friends. Anna and the Apocalypse not only touches on this theme, but actually places it in a time that feels right. Christmas is a time that no one wants to be alone, so the fact that a zombie apocalypse is happening during it makes it feel more natural for the characters to be more afraid to be alone.
The only real issue I found within the film was how to film handles John. He is an incredibly funny and fun character that will undoubtedly be a fan-favorite, but is killed is off rather quick and is left with a more unceremonious death. He comes off like a character that’s important, especially being romantically interested in Anna, and while his death was an actual shock, it leaves the audience with Nick as the leading male character, who we are never really meant to like. Then again, though, as the film says: “there’s no such things as a Hollywood ending,” so maybe that’s the point.
Even without the “Hollywood ending,” though, Anna and the Apocalypse is the best kind of Christmas gift that no one needed to ask for. It mashes everything great about Christmas movies, zombies, and musicals to create something amazing that audiences will never forget. So, hopefully this review will suffice for not being able to say this to you in person, Ella Hunt, and hopefully, more filmmakers will see Anna and the Apocalypse as an example of how to make something truly original.
Rating: 9/10
