Corona Zombies is a 2020 American comedy horror film directed by Charles Band, and produced and distributed by Full Moon Features. The film stars Cody Renee Cameron, Russell Coker and Robin Sydney. It is the first installment of the Barbie & Kendra film series.
| Corona Zombies | |
|---|---|
Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Band |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | Charles Band |
| Starring |
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Production company | |
| Distributed by | Full Moon Features |
Release date |
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Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Corona Zombies was released digitally through Full Moon Features' website and app on April 10, 2020. Later that year, it was followed by three sequels also directed by Band, Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King, Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51 and Barbie & Kendra Crash Joe Bob's Drive-in Jamboree with Cameron and Sydney reprising their roles.[2][3]
Plot
editInspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, the film stars Cody Renee Cameron as Barbie, a woman who finds herself facing an outbreak of zombies infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[4]
Cast
edit- Cody Renee Cameron as Barbie[1]
- Russell Coker as Corona Zombie
- Robin Sydney as Kendra
Production
editCorona Zombies was filmed over a period of 28 days.[1][4] The film consists primarily of redubbed and repurposed footage from Hell of the Living Dead and Zombies vs. Strippers, as well as clips of real-world news footage.[4][5]
Release
editThe film premiered digitally through Full Moon Features' website and app on April 10, 2020.[1][4][6]
Reception
editStuart Heritage of The Guardian called the film "the sort of thing you'd watch drunk in your house at midnight. But then again, that's how you're going to watch all films for the foreseeable future, so it has to be worth a go."[1] The National's Katy Gillett, in her review of the film, wrote: "If zombie movies are your thing, and you can acknowledge them as pure escapism that isn't to be taken seriously, then you're probably fine. If not, I'd skip it."[7] Alan Ng of Film Threat called Corona Zombies "a hilarious satire of this whole pandemic", comparing it favorably to the 1966 film What's Up, Tiger Lily? and the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.[8]
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Director | Charles Band (also for Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51) | Nominated | [9] |
| Worst Screenplay | Kent Roudebush, Silvia St. Croix and Billy Butler (also for Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51) | Nominated | [9] |
Sequels
editCorona Zombies was followed by three sequels, Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King, Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51 and Barbie & Kendra Crash Joe Bob's Drive-in Jamboree.[2][3] Both sequels were directed by Band, star Cody Renee Cameron as Barbie and Robin Sydney as Kendra, and were released in 2020.[2][3] Barbie & Kendra Crash Joe Bob's Drive-in Jamboree released in 2024.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Heritage, Stuart (April 13, 2020). "Corona Zombies: the terrible movie we might just need right now". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Foster, Chuck (June 1, 2020). "Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King". Film Threat. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c Ng, Alan (November 6, 2020). "Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51". Film Threat. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Kemp, Ella (April 16, 2020). "'Corona Zombies': someone has already made a horror film about COVID-19". NME. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Coffel, Chris (April 18, 2020). "'Corona Zombies' and a Brief History of Exploitation". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Sprague, Mike (March 24, 2020). "Exclusive Trailer: Full Moon's Corona Zombies!". Arrow in the Head. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Gillett, Katy (April 15, 2020). "'Corona Zombies': there's already a horror movie about the pandemic - it's terrible, but it knows it is". The National. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Ng, Alan (April 10, 2020). "Corona Zombies". Film Threat. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ a b "Razzie Awards 2021 Nominations: Full List of Nominees for the 41st Golden Raspberry Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. March 21, 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.