Apokalypse Z: Der Anfang vom Ende

Despite the terrible title, this isn't half bad. It may be the most character driven zombie movie I've seen since the wonderful 28 Days Later. These zombies are created through a virus that first has a long incubation period and is under control until a new variant comes along (sound familiar?) in which that time period is reduced to mere minutes and we are off and running. The film starts out strong establishing the main character and a startling car accident. He is the focal point from there on in along with, honest, his cat. His attachment to this cat is one of the more affecting aspects here, though some of it is a bit preposterous that he could contain this cat through all they go through, but it's a movie and they do plug along. It is a bit distracting though as I found myself worrying if it was eating, wondering how did it go to the bathroom, etc. Lol. There's less action in this than most zombie movies these days as this is more character driven. That works for me as constant action & noise can be monotonous. It's a Spanish film and the lead, Francisco Ortiz, was unknown to me, but I hope to see him again as he's a very strong presence. The ending action was a bit much to me, but the final scene is dark and leaves this open to a sequel. Id so, I hope it has a better title.

What a surprise when I came across this film the other day. I had bought the Kindle book version in 2020, and it was a blast reading, so much that when I finished it I went for the Part 2. The film similarity to the book is huge, with some changes but acceptable, missing the part in which its main Character has to do a mission for the russian sailors downtown, but for the rest is a very easy going film if you accept zombie movies and that not all zombies may die if wounded in the head.

As always there is so much more in a book reading than in its movie recreation. I would recommend the film and so the book.

Plot

Manel is sheltering from a rabies-like disease which sweeps the planet, until he is forced to leave and meet unlikely but essential traveling companions.

Cast

Not familiar with anyone of the cast but Director Carles Torrens I'm familiar with, though with mix results.

Verdict

As a life long mid 40's horror fanatic by favourite sub-genre has always been zombies. However I'm not as excited booting a new zombie movie up like I used to be as generally they're cliché ridden, trope saturated generic messes and it's rare I come across one I truly enjoy. Part of reason is that they're cheap to make so indie filmmakers with no budget and even less talent are making them and even when the budget is there the originality has waned.

With a generic title like Apocalypse Z which would befit a Scyfy original I went in assuming the absolute worst but found myself engrossed in an entertaining and likeable affair.

Following a single character has been done before but tends to be the setup for rather boring zombie movies this bucks that trend and was very engaging. His tiny travelling companion added both joy and consistent dread throughout the film which I enjoyed but very easily could have not.

The film isn't perfect, it has a mediocre ending and suffers from pacing issues a couple of times but overall this is one of the better zombie movies I've seen in the last 5 years and is well worth a watch for anyone who is a fan of the sub-genre.

Rants

I have 6 cats, they're my world. Being a crazy cat dad and generally a person who looks at the world with a animals > people stance made me wince throughout the movie. I had to Google in advance to find out if the pet dies, if the answer had been yes I wouldn't have watched this as that to me is the biggest horror trope that needs to die. What it did bring here though was heart racing dread and genuine concern, I approve! Horror movies simply don't scare me anymore and haven't for 30 odd years but this dread was a surprising and appreciate substitute.

The Good

Solid character development Some original moments The cat element really worked

The Bad

Weak finale Slumps a couple of times.

Well, I just saw this because I had nothing to do, and I just had to catch a quick bite and then leave, but ended up postponing my meeting because I got hooked. The movie was alright, and it had that thriller, apocalypse vibe to it, you can see it's not a high budget movie, but they did very well with what they had, and it worked!

When you think about all the horrible apocalypse movies that had crossed the screen, this is way superior to those. The acting was also acceptable, nothing Bollywood ish over this movie, which I tbh was actually expecting a little bit lmao. I got a little bit the walking dead season 1 vibes watching this.

"Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End" brings an invigorating Spanish flair to the well-worn zombie genre, blending terror with a surprising resilience not only in its human characters but in an endearing feline companion as well. The film is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, capturing survival instincts in a grimly fascinating setting. The cast is superb, with performances that feel both grounded and compelling-no overacting, just pure, authentic grit as characters navigate this grim new world.

At nearly two hours, the film could benefit from a modest trim or, perhaps, a few extra zombie-packed scenes to heighten the tension. Nonetheless, it maintains a fine balance of suspense and emotion, keeping viewers thoroughly entertained. For aficionados of the genre, Apocalypse Z is a delightfully crafted thrill that's sure to satisfy.

I would give it a sound 7 out of 10-an enjoyable entry in the annals of apocalyptic cinema.