If you’re reading this, there’s a pretty good chance you’re already aware that The Walking Dead is one of the most popular TV series in history, spawning a movie, a comic book series, AND a spin-off game called “The Walking Dead: Nightfall.”
Yes, it’s probably time for you to start watching the show. But before you do, why not watch one of the most talked about movies of all time first? That’s right, folks, prepare to become zombie-literate as we’re going to review The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie. What is it? Where can I watch it? Is it any good? All this and more shall be revealed. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn some vital information about the living dead. Let’s go.
What Is It?
The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie is, in fact, the long-awaited adaptation of AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series. (Check out the official synopsis below.) It was directed by Robert Pattinson and released in theaters on April 6th, 2016. (You can also watch the trailer below.)
As the name would suggest, The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie is meant to be viewed on the big screen as it was originally intended: on a large TV set. And since the majority of the dialogue is delivered in a fast-paced, high-energy style, the cinematic experience is pretty much guaranteed to be entertaining. That’s important, because it’s been a while since a live-action zombie movie was this entertaining. To put it simply, The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie is very much in the vein of Night of the Living Dead and its iconic leader, John Wick, brings with him that same old-school zombie movie vibe. (And, no, it does not suck.)
When Is It Released?
There’s no telling exactly when The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie will be released in theaters, but judging from the trailer, we’d guess it’ll be around early April, which is just a few short weeks away. Why? Because the trailer ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and if it’s anything like the rest of the movie, fans will be anxiously awaiting the next installment. This also means that if you want to see the final product before it hits theaters, you may have to settle for some poor quality online streaming or DVD copy. But don’t fret, there’s plenty more where that came from. We just have to wait and see what AMC has in store for us next. (FYI: We’ll have an on-the-ground review of the film as soon as it is released.)
Who Is The Cast?
With Robert Pattinson at the helm and featuring an impressive ensemble cast, it’s no wonder why people are already talking about The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie. Here’s the rundown:
- Robert Pattinson
- Lana Wachowski
- Tom Payne
- Richard Wolleson
- Chloé Zhao
- Kevin Durand
- John Malkovich
- Robert Englund
- David Morrell
- Bryan Cranston
- Julie Benz
- Kurt Russell
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan
- Tisha Campbell-Martin
- John Hawkes
- Daniel Lietz
- Claudia O’Hara
- Logan Marshall-Brown
- Enrique Murciano
- Zach McGann
- Gerald McRaney
- Clayton McMullen
- Cliff Meyers
- Kurt Riemer
As you can see above, the majority of the main cast is made up of A-list Hollywood luminaries. In fact, it’s considered one of the best zombie movie casts ever assembled. So don’t expect to see your average Joe walking around after all these years in zombie-land. This ain’t no Happy Days. These are some very realistic zombies. (And no, we don’t mean the actors.)
Synopsis (SPOILER ALERT!)
Here’s the plot, in brief:
In the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors seek safety in a big city. Unfortunately, they soon discover that the zombies have learned to exploit the situation and that there’s no easy way out. What’s more is that the zombies seem to be getting smarter as time goes by, which makes them that much harder to beat. (These are the same zombies from the award-winning AMC zombie TV series.)
Some of the survivors try to hang on to what’s left of their old lives while struggling to make a better one for themselves in a world that doesn’t want them around. As the zombies continue to evolve and learn, the survivors have to as well or they’ll surely be overwhelmed. (If you thought the living dead were supposed to be mindless automatons, think again. This group of zombies has some interesting quirks and mentalities of their own.)
With the arrival of winter, the zombies become a bit more sluggish and the humans have the upper hand. As the zombies get sick and tired of being cold, they mutate into a faster, stronger form that’s more determined than ever to eat human flesh. These are the types of zombies we’ll see heading into upcoming seasons. Of course, there’s always the occasional dumbass zombie too, but the majority are evolving into something more intelligent and dangerous than usual. (It’s going to be a very tough post-apocalyptic world.)
The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie is, at its core, a fairly traditional zombie movie. It follows the well-known formula of the undead apocalypse genre and, in a way, the story is quite similar to that of Zack and Miri Make a Pointe. The main difference is that this adaptation is very well-executed, which makes it feel all the more realistic and engaging. As a matter of fact, the only real competition that this film has is in the realm of high-budget zombie flicks. And, let’s face facts, The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie is a far more entertaining and innovative film than most others in its genre. (In fact, it’s often compared to the groundbreaking 1968 film, Easy Rider.)
The movie opens with a scene that’s as exciting as it is unnerving. We’re immediately thrown into the frenzy of a zombie apocalypse as a band of humans runs frantically for their lives, desperately trying to outrun or outplay the undead. From there, we’re treated to a series of action-packed scenes that showcase everything from clever zombie assassination strategies, to head-to-head fighting, and, of course, the relentless pursuit of human flesh. (Yes, flesh-eating zombies can be fun to watch when done well, but let’s face facts, most zombie movie plots are pretty silly.)
But it would be a mistake to call The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie a traditional zombie flick. Instead, it’s a thrilling cinematic experience that draws upon numerous references and influences from all over the place. The main thing that makes this film stand out is that director Robert Pattinson brings with him a confident flair and a unique interpretation of the zombie apocalypse narrative that infuses all aspects of his work, from the plot to the characters and the environments. (In case you were wondering, there is a very clear lineage from Romero’s Night of the Living Dead to The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie, as the latter continues the adventures of Rick and his survivors, several season’s after the former had ended. And, no, the similarities don’t end there.)
To elaborate, let’s take a look at some of the more prominent stylistic choices that Robert Pattinson made while bringing this story to life:
Using Cinematic Music
One of the most striking differences between this movie and most of its competitors is that it uses music in a completely new way. In most cases, music is there to either enhance or comment upon the action going on in the movie. But in The Walking Dead: Robert Pattinson’s Zombie Movie, music plays a crucial role in defining the mood and vibe of each scene. (For instance, the song “Walking Away” by Toto plays during a particularly tense sequence where our heroes must flee from an infected zombie horde.)