Updated: Jun 1, 2021
2021 must be the year of Zack Snyder because he’s two for two with his movies. From the success of Zach Snyder’s Justice League to his new Netflix film about a zombie/heist, Army of The Dead is one of the best zombie movies I’ve seen in a long while. And I don’t usually dig on the zombie trend, so that’s saying something. From action-packed scenes, weird but likable characters, to an interesting premise, this movie will certainly leave you satisfied and scratching your head.
The main plot of this movie is that Las Vegas is about to get nuked by the U.S. Government. A mysterious benefactor, played by Hiroyuki Sanada, recruits a team of mercenaries to break into a casino overrun by zombies and steal $200 Million before the nuke goes off. What could go possibly go wrong? A lot, a lot can go wrong! The beginning of the movie starts off with the military accidentally releasing a highly evolved zombie that starts the entire zombie apocalypse. Later on in the movie, a team of greedy survivors attempts to rob a casino, at the same time sabotaging each other. I felt like I was watching less of a zombie movie, and more of a western where some of your favorite characters deserve to win but eventually lost. Forcing us to care about the characters is perhaps what was Snyder nailed best. As a fan, I’m glad that he got to shoot his vision, not some cookie-cutter manufactured studio product.
Let’s cover the good of this film. The action was well shot, and well-choreographed. The zombies in this movie aren’t your average flesh-eaters. They are fast, strong, and organized. The leader of the zombie army, Alpha, is smarter and more primal than the rest. He actually communicates through grunts and screams to the rest of his pack, and they carry out his “orders”. Another win is Dave Bautista as team leader Scott Ward. He’s on a mission not only to get paid but to rekindle with his daughter Kate (Ella Purnell) who has her own motives for going on this mission. Bautista really gives us “action hero” moves, with him fighting zombies hand to hand and racing across a casino hallway, shooting his way out. Omari Hardwick also fits this movie, as Vanderohe, the sometimes enigmatic and hard-as-nails soldier who carries a frickin’ chainsaw to battle. He even goes one on one with the Alpha! Badass. As usual, there’s always some slimy, backstabbing person, looking out for self in these types of movies, and that’s Martin (Garret Dillahunt). From the jump, he looks like he can’t be trusted. Another win is the ending. I won’t spoil it, but it does leave room for a possible sequel.
There isn’t a lot I didn’t like in Army of The Dead. But what I will say is that there is always some stupid idea about using the blood of an alien, or in this case, a zombie, to weaponize it for the government! Like, when has that ever worked out?! Also, there is a theory of time travel in the movie. But I won’t speculate on that. All I can say is that it kinda throws the flow of the movie off for me. But that’s Zach Snyder for you, always putting in easter eggs and subliminal messages for watchers to notice.
I’m giving Army of The Dead an 8 out of 10.
Tell me what you thought of the movie. Post your thought below, and till next time fellow blerds!
Updated: Apr 25, 2021
Hello, my fellow blerds, and welcome to this week’s Weekly Snap! We’ve got quite a few things to cover, so let’s get into it!