Cross-genre films can only be successful if both genres are executed without compromising the core of either. Zombieland is the latest attempt by Ruben Fleischer to combine the horror and comedy genres.
The first question has to be is it successful as a horror film? Ultimately the answer is yes. Zombieland highlights how far technology and make-up artistry have come with the amazingly vivid and highly disgusting zombies that are constantly on display. There are some wonderfully jump inducing moments that had my pulse going and real tension due to the eerie and atmospheric settings. Along with these points of excellence, director Ruben Fleischer ticks the rest of the horror checklist with plenty of violence, gore and chase scenes. As a horror film then, Zombieland excels at times and at the very least works throughout.
The next question is whether this film works as a comedy and crucially, if humour is used in a successful way without negatively affecting the horror atmosphere. Again, the answer to both of these questions has to be yes. Woody Harrelson is utterly hilarious at times, while Jesse Eisenberg shows that he is a talent for the future. There is also something perversely funny in watching Abigail "Little Miss Sunshine" Breslin shooting ravenous zombies with a shotgun. Capping this off with a classic cameo equates to an excellent comedy performance by the entire cast. Trying to create humour from a horror base is extremely difficult. Many directors and film makers have made the mistake of affixing cheap humour to an already created piece. Zombieland however, shows us that when comedy is interwoven with the horror elements to create a plot the result is highly entertaining.
I was shown a trailer for this film a few months ago and could not help but grimace. A basically washed up Woody Harrelson in yet another pathetic attempt at combining horror and comedy made me understandably wary. I was content with relying on the brilliant "Shaun of the Dead" for this kind of film. It was in fact luck that resulted in me actually seeing Zombieland. But my preconceived notions were ridiculously off base. As these wonderfully crafted zombies attacked the easily loveable cast, it was hard not to imagine them as representations of recent Hollywood trends. The 'undead' franchises and over-used stock characterisations and plot elements of most Hollywood films are assaulting a core of artists like Ruben Fleischer that are attempting to defend the medium of film.
We should absolutely support this desperate last stand before they are over-run by the vicious mediocrity of Hollywood.
-The English Student
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