Operation Undead

After watching the movie, it's hard to shake off a certain sense of confusion and frustration, not just with the story, but also with how the film was put together. There's no denying that some aspects of the film had potential, but it was ultimately let down by its perplexing plot, questionable casting decisions, and an overall feeling that it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. It almost seems like the filmmakers were unsure whether they wanted to create an art film, a historical drama, or something else entirely. In the end, this indecision is one of the key reasons why the movie falls

Let's start with the positive aspects of the movie. One of the things that stood out was the quality of the makeup. The makeup team did a commendable job in transforming the actors to fit the roles they were playing. Creating a sense of realism in the battle scenes, or simply adding to the overall atmosphere of the movie, the makeup team clearly put in the effort, and it showed.

Similarly, the special effects were decent. While they weren't groundbreaking or revolutionary by any means, they were serviceable for the type of movie this was trying to be. The explosions, the visual atmosphere, and the fight scenes all had a certain level of polish that made them believable, even if they weren't spectacular. It's clear that the effects team knew what they were doing and delivered a solid product, but the problem lies in the fact that even good effects can't save a movie with a poor storyline.

Now, let's move on to what really drags this movie down: the story. It's hard to put into words just how strange and disjointed the plot feels. From the very beginning, it becomes apparent that the narrative lacks any real direction or purpose. The events that unfold on screen seem random at times, and the pacing is all over the place. One minute, you're watching what seems like an intense moment , and the next, you're left scratching your head, wondering what the point of a particular scene was.

The plot itself is a bizarre mix of history and fiction, with elements that seem almost nonsensical. For example, the film attempts to depict a period of Thai history where the country was struggling. While it's true that Thailand has faced hardships, the portrayal in the movie feels exaggerated and historically inaccurate. One of the biggest missteps was the idea that people in that era would be able to casually take photographs. In reality, photography was a luxury that few could afford, especially in poorer regions, making this aspect of the story feel forced and out of place. It's hard to immerse yourself in the film when basic historical facts seem to have been ignored.

There are now literally 100's of these B quality Zombie movies. I have a hard time watching them now most of them are so poorly done.

So I'm here to tell you Operation Undead was excellent. Granted some of the effects and makeup was cheesy, but the whole premise of this movie and the character development was such a nice surprise. I loved it. It's not Train To Buslan, but it's close. Give it a go, you want be sad.

This movie was interesting, and fresh, and empathetic, and original. I strongly disagree with the IMDb rating! It was all subtitles, so there's that. Watch it if you have time to pay attention. It offered a new perspective on zombie culture though! And great acting. Beautiful score. I loved all of it.

I hope you who are curious will give it a try.

We have to keep in mind that this is an Asian zombie film, never really designed for a Western audience. It explores topics, beliefs, and practices that may feel unfamiliar - even confusing - to many viewers. One of the reasons I enjoy Asian zombie films is that nothing is sacred; they don't shy away from showing women or children being attacked, sometimes to a level of extreme gore that Western films rarely touch. Western zombie movies tend to romanticize the horror, but here, everyone is truly equal prey. And speaking of gore, this film delivers it in spades - blood, guts, torn limbs, and rotting flesh. You might want to choose your movie snacks carefully.

The zombies themselves are also different from what we're used to. I've always liked the way Asian horror films handle "the wake-up moment" of the undead, and this film uses a similar approach. But these zombies go further - they regain consciousness, fragments of memory, and even the ability to communicate, at least sporadically. Other times, they're just mindless creatures growling and munching on entrails. Interestingly, their intelligence is reflected in their eyes: the more intelligent ones have solid-colored eyes (where both color and iris size seem to matter), while the less intelligent have one red and one blue eye, making them look more comical than frightening. The idea of a "conscious zombie" may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's an intriguing twist.

The runtime isn't very long, but honestly, a shorter cut might have worked better. The pacing swings wildly - some scenes are packed with action, while others drag to the point of being boring, far more than I expected after seeing the trailer. When the zombies spoke, it felt reminiscent of the apes in Planet of the Apes - though far less compelling. There's also a fair amount of filler content - scenes that seem there only to pad the runtime. And while the moment with one of the soldiers covering himself in mud felt like a fun nod to Schwarzenegger in Predator, it also felt a bit out of place. And what about the extreme flammability of zombies?

All that said, Operation Undead is still a fairly watchable movie, and if you're a devoted zombie-horror fan, I'd recommend giving it a try. Just remember: don't compare it too directly to Western zombie films. Asian horror has always leaned more heavily on spiritual and paranormal elements, even in creature features. Some Korean films, like Train to Busan, are more Western-oriented exceptions, but this Thai film takes a distinctly different approach - and that's part of what makes it unique.

I saw this one in the cinema because the story and trailer intrigued me. A made-in-Japan zombie virus lands on Thai shores during World War II, so the Japanese and Thai army have to contain the threat and keep it under cover at any cost. There is enough war action and some interesting set pieces (tropical beach, jungle, cave etc.), plus good portions of blood and gore, which was a nice surprise. However, as usual with Thai movies, a lot of unnecessary melodrama kicks in and it's made worse from the fact that the zombie ghouls...speak and weep for their families and loved ones... As a result, it's not as good as the previous Thai zombie film I'd seen (The Black Death from 2015), but it still has some interesting zombie mayhem moments to offer. As an extra note, the director started as part of the 'Ronin Team', responsible for the black magic horror classics Art Of The Devil 2&3, so he shows a taste for blood and gore in this offering as well. And it's not a zomedy, which is a good thing.