#EUROPEAN PREMIERE | horribly funny | zombie apocalypse | porn industry | young filmmakers | marijuana | stoned | the living dead | horror | comedy | independent cinema | Santa Claus | film studio | interns | humor | absurdity | breath of fresh air
ZOMBIE STRAIN
horror, comedy | USA | 2023
World premiere: HorrOrigins
Polish premiere: Splat!FilmFest
SMART COMEDY ABOUT INDIE FILMMAKERS IN A CLASH AGAINST ZOMBIES
In a world overrun by zombies, how will aspiring independent filmmakers survive? With great difficulty. But hey, at least they will get it all on tape. “Zombie Strain” tells the story of a bored film crew in a dingy studio waiting for the end of a porn shooting. While some of them are merely in it for the money, others have bigger aspirations. All of a sudden, their idle chats are interrupted by the news that the end of the world is approaching. The film studio’s frail walls are the only obstacle keeping our crew alive as zombies pour in from every angle. What do they decide to do? First of all, get stoned. And then stand up to fight the living dead.
“Zombie Strain” is independent cinema through and through. Although it maintains an amateur charm, it will surprise you with its ingenuity and sense of humor. The witty dialogues serve as a comedic backbone, with each character’s unique personality driving the narrative forward. There’s the pretentious studio owner, undependable interns, a porn star trying to get through college, and a tantric sex expert. And, of course, a sound engineer who can’t hear a thing because he can’t be bothered to take off his headphones.
The zombie apocalypse is the perfect backdrop for a variety of absurd ideas and scenarios that play out in “Zombie Strain”. In addition, the movie also reveals a lot about the independent film industry, as it expertly lampoons the grandiose aspirations of some rookie filmmakers who want to somehow marry commercial filmmaking with highbrow cinema.
“Zombie Strain” is a very successful directorial debut for Michael Seabolt, who managed to assemble an excellent cast. The majority of them are seasoned performers who, for the sake of convention, brilliantly play the part of amateurs. The film is also impressive in the way it’s shot. The limited budget breeds innovations such as handheld shots, smartphone-captured moments, and even cameras attached to the characters’ foreheads. All of this makes “Zombie Strain” a breath of fresh air in the living dead subgenre. It will certainly resonate with fans of “Final Cut”, screened during our festival last year.
director: Michael Seabolt
screenwriter: Gregory M. Schroeder
cast: Cameron Vitosh, Chandni Shah, William Mann, India Jasiri, Emily Ashby
duration: 1h 35min
language: English
subtitles: Polish
recommended age: 16+
