by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden
In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s There’s a Zombie Outside by Michael Varrati.
Synopsis
This meta-horror tale centers on a struggling artist who is deeply enmeshed in the world of cult cinema. As his identity blurs with his dark creations, he starts to see the monster from his film creeping into his reality, leaving him unable to distinguish fact from fiction.
The Good
Joseph: Ben Baur as protagonist actor Adam and Phylicia Wissa as his long-suffering close friend Taryn give impressive performances, which for me would be the main reason to recommend There’s a Zombie Outside.
Mike: There’s a Zombie Outside isn’t quite what you might think it is. While the movie does deliver on the promise of its title (sort of), this is really about the struggle to discern where reality stops and art begins, or is it where art stops and reality begins? Adam, played well by Ben Baur, deals with this quandary when things begin to blur together. Not really horror in the way it may be expected to be delivered, the film is nonetheless a horrific look into a bit of madness as he struggles to make sense of what is happening to him. Things become VERY meta as Adam falls deeper into a troubling spiral all thanks to the titular zombie who seems to somehow be shadowing his every move, so folks that like a movie that looks in at itself and the tropes within the genre will find a good amount of things to like.
Phylicia Wissa is a standout as she brings Adam’s BFF Taryn to life. Expressing frustration with him while coming across as a caring and loving friend in a way that seems totally relatable and realistic. It’s obvious she only has his best interests at heart, even if it’s too difficult for him to notice.
It’s also always a pleasure to see Tiffany Shepis (she of dozens of horror films in her career), so consider her a bit of yummy icing on a multi-layered cake.
The Bad
Joseph: Take the idea from the beginning of the excellent One Cut of the Dead and then steer the rest of the film into meta musings on the unfairness of the Hollywood machine and its effects on actors and you have There’s a Zombie Outside — without an ounce of the charm of One Cut of the Dead (I don’t want to go too deeply into spoiler territory so I’ll leave things there; viewers who have seen both films will understand what I’m saying). How meta is it? There’s a line about a director pondering how successful a zombie movie can be with only one zombie in it, in a movie that features only one zombie. I happened to have just watched Hollywood 90028 a few days ago, and writer/director Christina Hornisher nailed the difficulties and dangers about trying to make it in Hollywood in one character’s monologue in 1973 much more effectively than the entirety of There’s a Zombie Outside.
Mike: The initial act may be hard to get through for people expecting a horror film as it begins very much like a campy relationship drama. The concern of a zombie outside doesn’t come quickly enough for those who aren’t in the mood to watch a group of friends bemoan their partners and complain about a lack of intimacy. Once things pick up a bit and Adam begins to struggle with reality the pace or stakes never really get beyond that second gear, although it’s clear we should be thinking that they do. It’s almost like Varrati got a little too concerned with being cute and a tad over-indulgent with the whole “meta-ness” of his screenplay and the pacing of the film became an afterthought.
The Verdict
Joseph: There’s not much new on offer with There’s a Zombie Outside, which is more of a drama than a horror movie. Its meta message does, however, address the difficulties of LGBTQ talent navigating the Hollywood machine, which comes across well here and may be the film’s strongest suit.
Mike: Horror fans expecting even the mildest of zombie films will be disappointed by There’s a Zombie Outside. However, those that manage to get past the melodrama of the first act will find a fairly interesting - if slowly paced - look into the mind of someone having a hard time determining what is and what isn’t real.
There’s a Zombie Outside
Directed By: Michael Varrati
Written By: Michael Varrati
Starring: Ben Baur, Phylicia Wissa, Danny Plotner
Run Time: 1h 14m
Rating: NR
Release Date: August 9, 2024 (United States)
There was no trailer available at the time of this review
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