Based on the 2006 horror novel penned by Max Brooks, Marc Forster takes on the directorial duties for the apocalyptic horror film ‘World War Z.’ The latest undead thriller, in what appears to be a never ending release of zombie-centric films, has infected theaters this weekend and boasts as a possible strong blockbuster contender with Brad Pitt at the forefront of the movie. ‘WWZ’ might be an eye-catching idea but what does this concept about the infected/walking dead/zombies/undead/lurkers/brain-eaters, whatever you choose to refer to them as, really do for the genre?
‘World War Z,’ like most recent renditions of the zombie genre, broadens its view to a global perspective of the viral epidemic. Gerry Lane (Pitt) is a former U.N. employee who gets thrown into the battle between the living and the dead. In order to find a cure to combat the infection, Gerry investigates the origin of the disease while evading the agile and viscous clan of the undead.
Marc Forster’s ‘WWZ’ is a solid attempt but it’s too reminiscent of ’28 Days Later’ except with a bigger budget to afford Brad Pitt as the leading man. Mix in key elements of “I Am Legend” and you have ‘World War Z.’ Every time a zombie film comes to light there is always a specific trait that the makers seem to create in order to highlight the film as an individual. Here we have the undead as a reckless mass that will do anything to attack the living, including throwing themselves off buildings and forming massive anthills, climbing on top of each other to hurl over tall barricades.
‘World War Z’ is another chapter in the zombie saga but it won’t top the films that precede it.
