Bleak but fun

A week ago, I would have called myself a zombie movie fan but that would have been a lie, seeing as I had never watched a staple in this niche of the horror genre: World War Z.

Yesterday, I decided to educate myself by watching the highest-grossing zombie movie of all time.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t heard the best of things about this movie. I’ve heard it been called dull and dreary and I definitely didn’t have high expectations going into it.

Imagine my surprise when I ended up loving this 2013 film.

Yes, this movie is decidedly bleak. Set against the backdrop of a deadly pandemic ravaging the world turning people into raving animals with an unquenchable bloodlust, this narrative never promised cheer. Countless innocents are killed on-screen and fear is ever-present but luckily for our protagonist, a glimmer of hope still exists.

After finishing this film, I realized exactly why I enjoyed it so much.

Many apocalyptic films containing zombies or similar creatures tend to focus on human conflict and drama, and as previously discussed in my overview of The Walking Dead, that type of storyline bores me to tears.

World War Z decided to turn against its predecessors and focus on the search for a cure. The plot leaves clues for its watchers throughout as a genuine mystery becomes unraveled by our protagonist and I loved every second of it.

This film has secured itself on my list of favorite zombie films/tv shows and is due for a rewatch in the future.