The fourth installment of Zombies confirms what many suspected: the franchise is starting to show signs of exhaustion. The story feels repetitive, the resources seem limited, and the increasingly tight budget is evident in every frame. Still, against all odds, it's not a total disaster. There are fun moments, and it maintains the upbeat spirit that made it a hit with younger audiences.
Narratively, the film once again emphasizes unity over hate and prejudice - a metaphor we've already seen throughout the series, but one that still holds value. This time, vampires and so-called daywalkers are caught in conflict, with Zed and Addison trying to bring them together, following the same structure used with zombies, werewolves, and aliens in previous entries.
Visually, it's as colorful and sugary as ever, with cheerful musical numbers that do the job but no longer surprise. The chemistry between the leads still carries much of the story, while the new characters try to bring freshness without fully succeeding.
Perhaps the most redeeming aspect is its message: reinforcing the idea that unity, empathy, and diversity are stronger than division. It may sound naïve, but in today's world it's not such a bad thing for a teen movie to underline something so basic and necessary.
Zombies 4 won't go down in history as great family cinema nor does it extend the saga's magic much further, but for its target audience - especially those who've followed it from the beginning - it still has a certain charm. And if it gets new generations singing, dancing, and talking about accepting differences, maybe it fulfills its purpose better than it seems.
