Reel Zombies (2008) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Michael Masters and David J. Francis
Starring: Michael Masters, David J. Francis, Stephen Papadimitriou
Rated: UR/Region: 0/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from Synapse Films
Independent underground filmmakers Mike Masters and David J. Francis (playing themselves) are eager to complete the third film in their ZOMBIE NIGHT film trilogy, a series of unsuccessful low-budget, shot-on-video gorefests. The problem, however, is a recent zombie apocalypse has taken over the world since their series began. The dead are rising from their graves and eating the living… for real this time! Masters and Francis embark on the production of their newest masterpiece anyway, only to discover shooting in a post-apocalyptic world offers many unforeseen challenges. Instead of giving up, they decide to capitalize on the cannibalistic catastrophe. No need for latex and fake blood when there’s an entire world of flesh eating undead to add realism to their film, and help save money on special effects costs!
Teo guys that are known for low budget movies have cooked up a movies where in the middle of a legit zombie outbreak they try to make another one of those movies. They use their real names and have people who worked on those films and it all is very creative and I do give a lot of credit to the concept overall. I just wish things got cooking a lot sooner than they do. We are treated some very dry humor and things that depend on comedic timing. Things do actually become funny with a lot of what goes down on screen. I just think you might get tired of waiting for something to finally happen with the zombies because just a tiny bit here and there happens for most of the film.
The film seems to almost work better as some form of Spinal Tap-like look behind the scenes of making a low budget movie than it does a zombie flick. I think it might have been better had they just left out the whole “we’re in the middle of real zombies” concept and just went with a behind the scenes look at cheaply made horror films. Reel Zombies doesn’t do that, however, and as a result it does have some flaws that are hard to ignore. The movie might not be for people who like a little more action to their zombie films, but should be OK for people who like intentionally awkward comedic efforts in the horror genre.
– Audio Commentary with Directors Mike Masters & David J. Francis, and Producer Stephen Papadimitriou
– Over 40 Minutes of Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
– Original Trailer
