Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires tries to recapture the heart of the franchise’s early magic—melding a fun, unconventional love story with vibrant, inclusive musical energy—but ultimately feels like a worn-out sequel that lacks the emotional resonance of its predecessors. While Zed (Milo Manheim, School Spirits) and Addison (Meg Donnelly, American Housewife) continue to champion unity among all types of monsters, the film’s recycled plot and underwhelming chemistry reveal flaws within a series that may have passed its peak.
Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires shifts focus from Zed and Addison to two new groups of monsters—the daywalkers and the vampires—putting Victor (Malachi Barton, Stuck in the Middle) and Nova (Freya Skye, The Next Step) at the core of this story. These two new leads share the same heart and curiosity for the world and the unknown, while their chemistry and unique approaches to their pending leadership carry the emotional weight for much of the film.’
Despite these young lovers and the occasional burst of fun and clever choreography, Victor and Nova alone could not lift the film to the heights of the first two films of the franchise.
First, the music and the plot felt like attempts to rehash the first Zombies film. The reintroduction of rival groups, a quest for a shared goal, and the obligatory, forced “we’re all in this together” unity through music – it all felt repetitive. The only difference is the groups themselves. The numbers, such as “Don’t Mess With Us,” echo not only similar beats but similar lyrical connections as previously heard and loved songs such as “My Year” from Zombies and “We Got This” from Zombies 2. Additionally, the decision to keep Zed and Addison as camp counselors forces the plot to lean heavily into familiar themes and conversations. It hinders the film’s ability to pave its own path and tell its story freshly and organically.
The visual novelty of a supernatural summer camp offers a new twist, but the underlying plot is predictable, as Nova and Victor are essentially mirrors of Addison and Zed. The overfamiliarity leaves for an emotionally lukewarm film, where you like it because you loved the first film, but you don’t like it cause it feels like the first film retold. Compared to the franchise’s first two films, Dawn of the Vampires felt like a misguided search for identity.
Similarly, the costumes and supporting characters kept the film on a flat note. The performances of characters like Vargas (Mekonnen Knife, Shake Takes), Vera (Swayam Bhatia, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers), and Ray (Julian Lerner, The Wonder Years) didn’t make whirlwind impressions are were often lost in the song. Even the performances of returning characters such as Willa (Chandler Kinney, Lethal Weapon) and Eliza (Kylee Russell, Zombies: The Re-Animated Series) felt underwhelming.
The costuming, while seemingly appropriate for a camp-esque setting, felt extremely costumey rather than the natural look of the groups of characters. As far from the characters as they felt, it, however, came to par with the costuming and overall aesthetic of Zombies 3, which also unfortunately fell flat.
The fourth installment in the thrilling Zombies franchise stumbles where its predecessors soared. Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires follows in the disappointing footsteps of the third film, forcing a sense of emotional weight and originality. Rather than expanding the universe in a meaningful way, it leans on tired tropes and a forced crossover concept that never quite earns its place in the franchise.
