20131016: Horror Review---Deadheads

Deadheads

1. Fundamentals, reception.
1. American live action feature length film, 2011, NR, 95 minutes, horror, comedy, aspect 1.78
2. IMDB: 5.2/10.0 from 3,464 users.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 'No reviews yet,' and 44% liked it from 302 audience ratings.
4. Netflix: 3.4/5.0 from 104,073 users.
5. Written and directed by: Brett Pierce and Drew T. Pierce.
6. Starring: Michael McKiddy as Mike Kellerman, Ross Kidder as Brent Guthrie, Markus Taylor as Cheese, Thomas Galasso as Thomas Jeremiah, Natalie Victoria as Ellie Masterson, Eden Malyn as Emily, Harry Burkey as Cliff.


2. Setup and Plot
1. This zombie film starts after zombies are present in large numbers.  The two lead characters, Mike and Brent, are somehow intermediate: they show signs of death and decay, but they can speak, think, enjoy beer, enjoy food, and make plans about the future.  Mike finds an engagement ring in his pocket.  He remembers Ellie, his fiance.  Brent proclaims they should go find her; nothing is stronger than love, after all.


2. Mike and Brent are about to head off for Michigan from Colorado when the full-blown zombies attack the bar where they were having dinner. They pick up Cheese along the way.  Cliff (zero percent zombie) gives them a ride; he's intending to go to Lake Michigan to spread his wife's ashes.


3. The cause of the zombie problem is a chemical spill.  Someone or another decides to quarantine the area.  The quarantine team consists entirely of idiots and incompetents.  Cliff blows past the quarantine, but sleep is a problem; they let Cheese drive, and they run out of gas.  The subsequent 'camping' in the woods is a ghost story fest, aided by weed.  Mike works on his speech to Ellie, and Cheese kills a cop who shot Brent twice.


4. They use the cop's gas to continue.  The vignette with the horror films at the drive-in was an interesting touch.  The quarantine group recruits an escaped convict, Thomas, who likes to kill zombies.  They get captured, but Cheese breaks them out.  The scene with Mike being dragged for a few football fields was not all that funny.  Cliff makes it to the shore of Lake Michigan, but he has already run out of his heart medicine, and dies watching the waves.


5. They make it to Mike's house, and Mike remembers that Ellie's father killed him in that same house. The reality of meeting Ellie comes to pass; their ten year reunion is that night, so he goes to it, so he can tell her how he feels.


6. He puts on a mascot costume, and talks to Ellie.  The authorities drag him off; the next day, Ellie's father has a few more laughs at Michael's expense.


7. Thomas changes his mind, and decides to help Michael.  Michael makes it to Ellie's house, but the chief idiot of the quarantine squad catches up.


8. What could possibly go wrong?


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Butch and Sundance as funny, smart zombies.
2. Four stars of five.


4. Scores
1. Cinematography: 9/10 Nice.


2. Sound: 10/10 Excellent.


3. Acting: 7/10 Could have been better.


4. Screenplay: 8/10 There were several funny moments, which is more than I can say for most films labelled comedy.  The story hung together, once one suspends disbelief about smart zombies.