Rammbock: Berlin Undead

RAMMBOCK is a brilliant little "infected zombie" movie from Germany. At a mere 1 hour in length, it gets right into the action with a small group of survivors trapped in an apartment complex.

A mysterious infection is turning anyone bitten into mindless, orally-foaming, killing machines.

This movie has two major strengths: #1- The characters, though in a panic, are not stupid. They come up with some innovative ideas for their escape and / or survival. #2- There's a central theme of humanity within the carnage and chaos. This makes it more realistic, even heartbreaking when tragic losses occur.

Don't worry though, there are plenty of shocks to be had!

One of the best, most original modern zombie films to emerge...

I actually do zombie extra in movies with no credit (I'm formerly from Pittsburgh, and represent the George Romero team as a full-on fan of the genre), and these people are having way too much fun.

Way, way too much fun! Though as a... um... "professional zombie", no rule is broken, (a joke from one of my directors: "zombies do not RUN!!!" They don't) and if a zombie-fan, a total thrill-ride.

GREAT STORY!!! GREAT ENDING!!! Who cares the budget: no one can tell, cuz it's good. As philosophical as I expect from Germany, but without the total angst. Together, yet apart. Hopeful, and hopeless. God, it's just GOOD!!! I really wish I was an extra on this one. I'd die for it.

For a rather short film (just over an hour) with a rather low budget it's not too shabby. The "dead" act like the infected from 28 days later, rather than zombies and are repelled with bright light but do love the taste of flesh! The action takes place in and around an apartment block and a courtyard so don't be mislead by the cover. I liked the film but found the main character to be a complete pain. The guy is a complete plank and its hard to sympathise with him though the other main characters (or should I say, character) were fine. In the middle of the apocalypse, he is completely smitten with his girlfriend and worries about her whereabouts which is plausible but he still comes across as rather stupid and pathetic. However this is a nice change from the hard as nails lead you expect in this type of film. Some people should be warned that the film is in German which posed no problems for me as I don't mind subtitles but folk do seem to moan a lot about having to read subtitles these days...

Rammbock otherwise known as Berlin Dead and Siege Of The Dead is a German zombie movie which tells the very generic story of the beginning of a zombie outbreak but does it competently enough to be passable.

It follows two strangers who are forced to barricade themselves inside a block of flats and try to survive. Basically your usual tropes so don't expect anything original here.

It plays the realistic angle and reminded me of the 28 Days Later (2002) movies despite these actually being zombies.

It looks okay, the characters are passable but it's so unoriginal it made my balls rattle. It really is paint by numbers stuff so if you like generic zombie films this may very well be what you're looking for.

Sadly after countless zombie epics including the more recent Train To Busan (2016) and Wyrmwood (2014) I do find myself expecting more.

The Good:

Realistic approach

Generally passable stuff

The Bad:

No originality at all

Lead bounces from annoying to pathetic

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Bent fork heads don't make the best projectiles

Fork desecration is a womans primary concern during a zombie apocalypse

This is one of those flicks I was trying to get in my hands. It is officially out and should be easy to find but when I ordered it it was always delayed but finally I was able to get it from the UK. It's an independent and it shows but not on the effects. It only shows on the amount of actors and on the way the script was written. There are a few CGI shots but it's only the apocalypse of Berlin and it worked out fine. The zombies itself are okay in the way they act and are created. But overall it's more a love story than a real zombie flick. Nevertheless, the zombies do appear at regular base just when you think that it's going to be boring. There is a bit of red stuff and only in the beginning there is a bite in the neck where it's a little bit gory. Further on the gore is left out. Still by clocking in at 61 minutes it's surely on to have in your zombie collection. A really nice effort by the director and his crew.