Zombieland (2009) – 7.75/10 – Zombie Horror Mixes Comedy In An Entertaining Flick
‘Zombieland’ is a zombie horror drama that sprinkles on comedy in a fun, action-packed film. A recluse college student, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), finds himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. His parents live in Columbus, Ohio, prompting him to drive there to find out whether they survived. Once his car breaks down on the way, he hitches a ride with a brutal Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson). Tallahassee has a certain fondness for Twinkie’s mini-cake. On the road, they stop at a supermarket for some Twinkies. There, they run into the conniving sisters, Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin).
I have become fatigued by the overdone zombie horror subgenre, but I liked this movie. The script, dialogue, character development, acting, and cast chemistry were decent. Although I rarely watch horror films and this falls under that genre, I didn’t find it particularly scary. It had plenty of gore, blood, and violence to keep you on the edge of the seat. I chose this film for a couple of reasons: it was short inside 90 minutes, and I liked the cast. Emma Stone is one of my favorite actresses, and Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are solid actors who I have watched in multiple films/shows over the years. Bill Murray was in a side-role here, but he is fitting here in his hilarious cameo.
Would I recommend it? I don’t consider this a must-watch. This film had its share of up and down moments throughout, and the plot was nothing unique or fresh. I still found it entertaining throughout and never found myself bored. The comedy added a light touch to a zombie horror film that can get serious quick if you allow it. If you like zombie movies, you have may have already seen it (if not, watch it). Otherwise, you won’t miss much skipping it.
