Feeding the Masses

Some news reporters and their military escorts try to tell the truth about a epidemic of zombies, despite the 'government controlling the media'. The makings of the film don't understand that the George Romero zombie films only worked because he kept his politics subtly in the background of most of his films ("Land of the Dead" withstanding). This satire is about as subtle as a brick to the face or a bullet to the head is more apropos for this scenario. What's subversive or subtle about seeing a military guy masturbating to death and destruction? Anything nuanced about the various commercials that are inter-cut with the film? Nope. Furthermore the acting is uniformly horrible, the characters thoroughly unlikable, and the plot inane. Add this all up and you have the worst, most incompetent zombie film since, "C.H.U.D. 2" reared it's hideous head.

My Grade: D

I have dedicated my life to seeing every horrible B-rated movie ever created. I agree that, though this is not the greatest movie, it is not the worst. Yes, the story could have used some work. Yes, the acting wasn't on par with Sean Connery or Brad Pitt. But I found some scenes to be humorous. As for this dreaded F-Bomb, I agree. Just because you can swear to make a scene better, doesn't mean you should every ten minutes. All in all the movie is a hit or miss film. My friend and myself found it a good movie. Other friends of mine found it to be just plain bad. So all I can say is don't take my word for it. Go out and rent it, give it a try. Thank you and good night.

The DVD cover claims to put it in a higher class than all three of the ROMERO classics. That's utter nonsense. They are either total liars or smoking some really good stuff. This crap should not have been released. And the acting was horrible also. No one can compare with George Romero and putting his name on the cover to give this waste of money credibility is a crime. Don't rent it. Don't watch it for free. Run as far away from it as possible. I know that a lot of ZOMBIE movies are not very good, But this one is the king of BAD ZOMBIE FILMS. See "Land Of the Dead" or "Undead". These are two new Zombie flicks worth your hard earned money.

Just to-day my wife and I watched three modern zombie movies in one day. I am about to discuss one of them now.

FEEDING THE MASSES has "amatuer" written all over it but that is not synonymous with "bad"; don't forget THE DEAD NEXT DOOR turned out to be a decent film which surprised a lot of people. I thought I had seen the last of the "The Government can't be trusted" subgenre when the 70's ended but I guess questioning authority will always be with us.

The plot? Oh yes, the plot! Something called "The Lazarus Virus" has gotten out of hand (yes, again!) and the recent dead are returning to life as . . . let's all say it together . . . flesh eating zombies! This time though the Government is trying to put a positive spin on the whole thing by taking over the news media and telling people everything is going to be "just fine" when actually things are going to Heck in a handbasket more each day. A TV station is forced to run such obvious bullbleep as a "public service" message telling you that if zombies attack just fall to the ground and play dead! Shady corporations are still out to make a quick buck by offering to track down, re-kill and respectfully re-bury walking dead loved ones. Self empowered militias of shotgun toting rednecks are cruising the streets blasting down zombies left and right and yet another group extols people to come out and join its "End of the World" party!

Into the midst of all this stands a young reporter who fancies herself the next Diane Sawyer and sees the zombie attacks as her ticket to the Big Time, provided the world does not self destruct first. With her photographer (Billy Gaberina) close by she is determined to expose the official lies and alert people to the danger they are truly in. um . . . not that it isn't bloody obvious to begin with!

Zombie makeups are, well, fair. Gore effects, while plentiful, are standard. The budget was so low they could not even afford blank cartridges for the guns. Actors just shake the guns like they are spewing bullets rapid fire while gunshot sounds are dubbed in.

Then again, what FEEDING THE MASSES lacks in budget it makes up for in sincerity. The filmmakers have managed to put a new spin on an old subject. We kinda like this movie. Of course we also liked Umberto Lanzi's NIGHTMARE CITY and Vincent Dawn's HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD too.

Woa Kev Keefe obviously doesn't know much about George A. Romero. George has, on numerous accounts, made fun of reviewers of his dead films that said that the social commentary was subtle. Kev Keefe asked "What's subversive or subtle about seeing a military guy masturbating to death and destruction?" referring to FEEDING THE MASSES and I ask him what's subtle about a black man being shot in the head by a redneck (notld) or mindless zombies stumbling around a giant mall to the sounds of "save now" PAs (dotd)? I don't think the filmmakers behind FEEDING THE MASSES intended their message to be subtle, and besides who says that art has to have a subtle message anyway. FEEDING THE MASSES succeeded in being an entertaining zombie flick that commented on the media of this country. I give it a 6.