ARMY OF THE DEAD is a 100-minute movie trapped in a 2 hour and 15-minute video game thrill ride. It’s great to see writer, director, producer, Zack Snyder return to the genre that made him a killer force to watch. ARMY OF THE DEAD is his best movie in years.
The plot (if one can call it that) revolves around a zombie outbreak in Vegas that has been contained. Rather than leave the zombies there to rot away, the government plans to blow it up within 36 hours. But before they do, Dave Bautista is hired to break in and steal $50M from a casino. Guts hit the fan as this plan, of course, falls apart.
The 1st act is executed flawlessly to maximize fun, Michael Bay-inspired teambuilding, and violent comedy. The 2nd act however is where the problems set in giving too much time to non-speaking zombies and a B story involving a mom separated from her children. These plots don’t really add up and serve as a mechanism to get failed father Scott (Bautista) to figure out how to re-connect with his daughter, Kate (Ella Purnell). Yet, what makes this movie worth watching is the 3rd act with so much blood, guts, and ridiculous action sequences it demands to be seen on the big screen.
ARMY OF THE DEAD is not A QUIET PLACE scary, but it’s not supposed to be. It delivers on exactly what it’s supposed to – a heist movie mash-up with bloody zombie fun.
It’s available in theaters now and premieres on Netflix this Friday (21-May)
