This was a film that I got the chance to see via screener thanks to Kim from Dominion3. Level 33 is doing the distribution and they're a company that has lower budget stuff that I usually enjoy to some extent. Seeing that this was a zombie film with cosplayers was intriguing. Then knowing this is a wide release horror film for 2025, I figured it would help expand out my list. Other than that, I came into this one blind.
Synopsis: a group of cosplaying friends trigger a zombie apocalypse and are forced to traverse a zombie-infested Los Angeles to save their loved one.
We start this in the middle of something going on. Claire (Erin Áine) is covered in blood, sees a katana on the wall next to her and uses it to kill whoever is in front of her. We then jump back to see what led us there. We're in Los Angeles. Claire is a cosplayer and hangs out with her crew that is led by Rocket (Manny Luke). There is also Punkie (Punkie Johnson) and Javier (Christian Casillas). She voice-over narrates to get us up to speed about what they do and about a conference coming up.
It is here that we learn Rocket's crew has won this group competition three years in a row. Zander (Carlo Mendez) and his team are their rivals. We will learn they've been spying on Rocket to copy what they're doing. This does backfire though, causing them to lose.
Our group goes to celebrate and we see them get bullied at a corner store. This bothers Rocket and he can't shake it. Punkie tries to cheer him up, but to no avail. They all head home when Claire is stopped by a homeless man. Rocket freaks out on him. Claire apologizes and she is given an odd rock. The man then disappears.
The next day gets tense with Rocket still in a bad mood. Claire finished a Power Rangers costume for Javier. Everyone is excited except Rocket. They then decide to order pizza which causes Claire to melt down. It sounds like her ex-boyfriend, Devan (Leighton B. Allen), works there as a delivery driver. She is sulking in her room and she makes a wish, that all the jerks in the world would become zombies so she could kill them. The mysterious rock she has glows and then turns to dust. She's worried about what she did. This is founded when Devan turns out to be a zombie. The news reports that there are mass riots across LA.
Where they are at is secured enough. Rocket's mother then calls. She is referred to as Mama Bear (Nichole McAuley). Apparently, Zander is posing as Rocket's friend to get her to make costumes for them. She's had enough. Rocket and his team must decide what to do, wait out what is happening or travel across the city to save Mama Bear. Their skills will be tested by these magical zombies.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I'll then start is by saying that this is a fun film. The zombie genre is oversaturated. You really need to do something that is different and put your own spin on it for it to stand out. I like what we're doing here by having cosplayers. We see them when they're in their element. Rocket even has fans. Then we see how they're looked at funny by this clerk at the corner store and then bullied. On top of that, you have Zander, who seems to be from a rich family that isn't truly as ingrained in the anime community, but is determined to defeat Rocket. I had fun with this premise.
Let's then shift over to discussing the zombies. This is something else that makes this different. These are magical or mystical since they were created by this magical stone off the wish of Claire. There is comedy there since it is such a specific wish. Since this is a comedy, I can roll with it. These ones are fast moving. As things go on, we see that they're stronger than normal people. They can talk and they're almost demons. This raises tension since they're not easily defeated. What I love is that the first one we see is stabbed in the head. It doesn't kill him. It is set up from there how they can be defeated. I'd say that it does stick to this rule fairly well from what I could tell.
I do want to circle back to our characters. What is fun about them is that as cosplayers who are into anime, they have a collection of katanas and larger knives. That both adds comedy but also gives them weapons. Punkie is also a doomsday prepper because of videos she watches online. That made me chuckle as well. They do put on armor they made for characters. It is made of foam so it provides a bit of protection. I'll end this section with saying that I do like using a niche group like this. They're bullied, don't necessarily fit into the mainstream idea, but with this apocalypse happening, it is their time to shine.
The acting performances, fitting the comedic tone, are solid. Luke excels as a bullied leader finding strength through survival. Áine is an interesting character, tragic yet cute, who caused the events. Johnson challenges Rocket effectively. Casillas is good. Mendez and his crew, along with the bullies, provide recognizable characters. McAuley shines as the group's surrogate mother. The rest of the cast, especially the zombies, contribute to the overall success.
All that is left then is filmmaking. Cinematography and framing of action scenes were well-executed, creating a full atmosphere with an appreciated anime aesthetic that suits the characters. Zombie design, practical blood, and gore were effective, with unobtrusive CGI. The soundtrack helped the atmosphere. Minor issues include occasionally chaotic camera work and a slightly excessive runtime that could benefit from trimming.
In conclusion, this is a fun and refreshingly different take on the zombie genre. While its unique premise involving cosplayers and magical zombies might not appeal to everyone, those looking for a comedic and action-packed film with a distinct flair will likely enjoy it. The film successfully carves its own niche, offering solid performances and effective filmmaking that contribute to an entertaining experience, even with a few minor flaws. I do recommend it for those seeking something beyond the typical zombie fare.
My Rating: 5.5 out of 10.
