October 20 2007
Fido / 28 Weeks Later
Two zombie movies for Halloween! Both take familiar horror into new territory. Fido presents an alternate 1950s American suburbia trying to maintain normalcy during an undead uprising. It begins with a light-hearted classroom film about a company called Zomcon working to keep the cannibal corpses under control. Electronic collars transform zombies into personal servants, unskilled laborers and house pets. Prim and proper citizens have a knack for turning a blind eye to life's little problems, whether they be young Timmy's complaints of school bullies or the ghouls roaming the wild zone just outside the fenced-in cities. But like in so many other 50s fauxtopias (Far From Heaven, Pleasantville), sweeping one's troubles under the rug only makes the unseen dust bunnies grow bigger.
The sequel to 28 Days Later runs with a unique take on "zombies" – here, living humans infected by a violent, all-consuming rage. A hair trigger military presence and a complex family drama punctuate an already out of control situation. We're introduced to a group of people hiding out from the ongoing rampage. When the walls cave in, one man is forced to choose between helping his wife and risking both of their lives, or escaping to hopefully reunite with his children. His decision starts a chain reaction of guilt, regret and anger that adds poignancy to the chaos building around him.
Fido should get points just for its audacious blending of cheery housewives and menacing monsters, but doesn't take full advantage of its premise. The story repeats a few obvious social critiques as if the audience were brain-dead to any subtext. The best set-ups are wasted as under-developed gags. One creepy bachelor's relationship with his female zombie "pet" could provide plenty of uncomfortable material. On the other hand, 28 Weeks Later gets under the skin by fully exploring the emotional conundrums grown from its basic conflict. Mobs of mindless killers can become mind-numbing, but facing the impossible choices necessary for survival can induce pure panic.
Fido:
28 Weeks Later:
