Uniquely Thai
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.
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.
- emwee609
- 31 अग॰ 2025