Zombieland

I’m afraid I relented and went back to my love of zombies. But hey, zombies make for good story telling right?

In 2010 Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland was released; an action-packed, gore-filled, tongue-in-cheek zom-com that only gets funnier with every time you watch it.

It’s a simple tale of survival in a zombie infested world. In fact it reminds me of the Left 4 Dead games, where the aim is simply to survive. That doesn’t mean this film should be taken lightly however. In the zom-com genre it definitely ranks highly.

The basic storyline is four survivors end up teaming up and travelling across what is left of America, in search of, to quote from the film, ‘the little things’. There is no real goal, just endless amounts of fun, and that makes this film very different from other apocalyptic texts that usually have a purpose in their plots. That, for me, makes this film hugely enjoyable.

This film is also clever in other ways. The choice of music fits perfectly with what is going on at exactly the right time, in particular the use of Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls during the beginning credits, which really sets up the whole film. I also really like the way Columbus’ (Jesse Eisenberg) rules to surviving the zombie apocalypse are used throughout the film.

The only bad things I can say about this film is that the group end up listening to the radio in their car and using electricity, in particular at the end with the theme park rides. Obviously during the end of the world there will be no one to run such power and therefore these particular parts of the film are inaccurate.

However these errors can be easily overlooked as there are so many good and funny parts throughout including Tallahassee’s (Woody Harrelson) rage at only finding Sno Balls and no Twinkies in the van: ‘This Twinkie thing, it ain’t over yet’; Tallahassee playing a banjo to draw out zombies in the store, then when one appears he bashes the zombie with the banjo; Columbus’ outburst after everyone starts pointing guns at each other, which is funny because it not only breaks the tension between the group but also because Columbus isn’t one to get angry; before entering the antiques shop Tallahassee rings a little bell that hangs outside, again to draw out zombies, then promptly shoots the zombie that comes out; zombie kill of the week: Sister Cynthia Knickerbocker, who drops a piano on the zombies head – ‘Poor flat bastard’; the antique store’s destruction by the hands of the group…just because they can and to blow off steam; Wichita (Emma Stone) accidentally smacks a golf ball into Tallahassee’s forehead (ouch); Tallahassee’s sheer exhilaration that Bill Murray (as himself) is still alive (until Columbus accidentally shoots him of course); Bill Murray, Wichita and Tallahassee’s re-enactment of Ghostbusters (whilst they’re high); Bill Murray’s death scene is funny (in a morbid sort of way); Tallahassee’s awesome stand against countless zombies in the booth at the theme park (gunslinger mode activate!); the zombie clown (enough said); and finally the scene where Tallahassee finally gets his Twinkie…the sheer joy on his face is hilarious!

And my favourite quotes from the film are:

• ‘You’re a peppy little spit-f**k, aren’t ya?’ – Tallahassee to Columbus
• ‘I gotta take the Browns to the Superbowl.’ – Columbus (five points if you can guess what that’s a metaphor for)
• ‘I promise you it ain’t prettier than our friend here enjoying her Manwich.’ – Tallahassee (Um…yummy?)
• ‘You’re gonna risk our lives for a Twinkie?’ – Columbus (not anymore he ain’t :()
• ‘Don’t kill me with my own gun!’ – Tallahassee
• ‘”Wantum you wampum”. Yeah. That’ll work.’ – Tallahassee
• ‘You’re like a giant cock-blocking robot developed in a secret f**king government lab’ – Columbus to Tallahassee (such rage young one)
•  ‘I’m, uh, not too good at farewells, so, ah…that’ll do pig.’ – Tallahassee (he’s right, he’s not good at goodbyes)
• ‘Where are ya, you spongy, yellow, delicious bastards?’ – Tallahassee (They’re no longer available my friend :()

I know there are a lot of quotes here, but I’m telling you that I wrote down a hell of a lot more, and it was difficult to narrow down the best ones. I also apologize for the Twinkie over-load.

Anyway, like I said before, this film is brilliant, and only gets better with every time it’s watched. It’s full of laughs, gore, some emotional scenes and more fun than you can shake a gun at…and Twinkies. I’m sorry, it had to be done…I couldn’t resist!

An 8.9 out of 10.

 

Got something you want me to review, or got any advice? Or do you have something to say about this one? Then please feel free to leave a comment down below!