Night of the Zoopocalypse

This movie was an absolute blast-creative, hilarious, and full of surprises! There were moments that made me jump, moments that had me laughing out loud, and overall, my kids and I had a fantastic time. It's the kind of film I'd happily rewatch. Xavier the lemur, a French film buff, was such a standout-instantly one of my favorites! It's refreshing to see filmmakers take risks and create something truly unique.

As a Clive Barker fan, I was intrigued going in, and this definitely delivered! The blend of horror and humor was spot-on, making for an unforgettable experience. I can't wait to recommend it to friends!

We really liked this one, hads lots of fun watching it! The zomby animals are very creative and funny, frogs zombies were my favorite. The colors of the movie looked very Halloween-ish, loved it!

We were two adults watching so not sure how scary the story might be for kids.

Pros:

• great visuals and very creative monsters design
• i really liked the animation style, animals looks very plyshy and soft
• loved the idea of zombie animals at the zoo

Cons:

• story writing feels a bit chompy at times and the ending felt little rushed

Enjoyed it in general, will try to introduce it to my niece once it hits streaming.

Review for anyone trying to find a movie for their kids to watch: Night of the Zoopocalypse is an entertaining and funny animated movie with good lessons on loyalty and not being afraid of people who are different. And the horror elements make it feel unique. We don't normally see that subgenre in kids movies.

Score: 8 stars

Review for adults hoping to enjoy a movie for which they aren't the demographic: this movie is both harmless and forgettable. It feels like a weaker version of many other animated movies. Half the comedy works. I doubt many adults will hate or love it.

Score: 5 stars

(1 viewing, 4/19/2025)

Was oddly in the mood for a softer film so I was browsing the animated section. I saw this movie and I somewhat remember hearing the title. I noticed it was created by Clive Barker so I was immediately sold on the idea of a Barker-flavored animated PG-rated zombie film (starring Scott Thompson as an ostrich) and I had to see it. It seemed generic initially, as it did take a little to warm up to the protagonists. And I swear, Gracie's accent just switches to deep southern halfway through the movie. Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised at how entertained I was. The animation style is a nice slight twist on what's popular today. I loved the zombie/animal designs. Also, once the final crew is assembled to carry out the actual plot, there's some solid laughs. Good for kids as well, my 3 year old was into it and she does not favor the creepy creeps.

Night of the Zoopocalypse is an extremely entertaining and cute sci-fi movie with amazing build-up. It has an interesting story and likeable characters, which allows the viewer to become invested in the situation.

The story takes place in a zoo, where Gracie, a wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) and Dan, a mountain lion (David Harbour) are forced to team up when a meteor turns animals into zombies. They, and the other survivors of the zombie virus, attempt to stop the virus from spreading any further, and save those infected.

The animation in this film is incredible; everything looks so lively and each animal moves exactly like their real-life counterparts. I especially love the way Xiavier, the red ruffed lemur, moves - all his movements are not only extremely smooth but also true to the real animal. I love the visuals throughout this movie and the character designs; the details for small things in the background that represent the zoo are outstanding. However, I am not the biggest fan of Dan's design as it is difficult to tell what animal he is supposed to represent. I also really like following the main character, Gracie. She's such a fun character to watch and Gabbi Kosmidis really brings the character to life through her voice acting. The script is so well done; I love that there's so much thought behind how the zombies work and what they are able of doing. The characters are particularly well scripted; the main characters feel real thanks to their believable actions and the secondary characters are quite funny. The pace of the storyline works well, with the audience discovering information as fast as the characters do. There are a few scenes that feel a little too long, but still, the film is extremely funny and enjoyable to watch. Even though it's geared towards a younger audience, I found myself laughing out loud at times.

The film's message is to be loyal to those that you love and appreciate those around you despite their differences. Be forewarned that there are intense scenes and action sequences, including fake limbs coming off.

I give Night of the Zoopocalype 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It releases in theaters March 7, 2025. By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST!