Watch Walking The Dead
- 2010
- 1 hr 25 min
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4.3 (160)
Walking The Dead is a 2010 indie horror-comedy that is as creative as it is funny. Set in a city that has just been hit by a mysterious virus, the film follows a group of survivors as they try to navigate their way through the chaos and stay alive. It's a low-budget film that doesn't shy away from gags or moments of pure absurdity but manages to hit emotional beats and political commentary with surprising depth.
The lead character is Sue (Angela Ying-Ying Tong), a young woman who wakes up one day and finds out that everyone around her has turned into zombies. She quickly meets Danny (Sam Voutas), her neighbor, and together they try to avoid getting bitten while looking for other survivors. Along the way, they team up with a scientist named Xiao (Zijun Ma), who is trying to find a cure for the virus.
The film takes place over the course of one night, as Sue and Danny move from location to location, encountering a variety of characters, both living and undead. Most of the humor in the film comes from the absurdity of the situations they find themselves in, such as when they stumble across a group of zombies doing Tai Chi in a park, or when they have to fight off a zombie who is obsessed with playing video games.
At its core, though, Walking The Dead is really about the bonds that form between people in times of crisis. Sue and Danny's relationship is the heart of the film, and their camaraderie is what keeps them going despite the seemingly hopeless situation they find themselves in. They're not just trying to stay alive; they're trying to protect each other as well. The addition of Xiao to the group adds another layer to this dynamic, as her scientific approach to the situation clashes with Sue and Danny's more emotional reactions.
One of the most striking things about Walking The Dead is the way it uses its low budget to its advantage. The film is set entirely at night, and much of it takes place in abandoned or empty locations like parking lots and office buildings. This creates a sense of isolation and claustrophobia that is essential to the film's atmosphere. The zombies themselves are not particularly scary; in fact, they're almost cartoonish in their movements and appearance. This serves to make the film less of a traditional horror and more of a dark comedy.
In addition to its humor and emotional depth, Walking The Dead also has some interesting things to say about society and politics. The film takes place in China, and there are moments when the characters' struggle to survive becomes a metaphor for the struggles of the Chinese people under a strict authoritarian government. There's also some commentary on the dangers of blindly following orders, as some of the film's more morally ambiguous characters are members of the military or the police.
Overall, Walking The Dead is a unique and entertaining film that manages to balance humor, horror, and heart. It's not a perfect movie; some of the jokes fall flat, and the pacing can be a bit sluggish at times. But its low budget adds to its charm, and the performances from the lead actors are strong enough to make up for any shortcomings in the script. It's a film that will appeal to fans of zombie movies, but also to anyone who enjoys a good character-driven story.