THIS PLACE IS SO DEAD.
In a world where zombies stagger all over the planet, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has learned how to survive on his own, but the set of rules that he lives by may change when he encounters other survivors with different mindsets.
In his directing debut, Ruben Fleischer actually manages to do something at least partly novel with a well-worn concept. Comedy and splatter effects mix cheerfully in the vein of Shaun of the Dead (2004); that movie was distinctly British, this one is distinctly American.
Funny, exciting at times, even though it turns predictable toward the end. Bill Murray is a hoot as himself, and the entire cast is certainly game for it.
2009-U.S. 88 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Screenplay: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick. Cast: Woody Harrelson (Tallahassee), Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus), Emma Stone (Wichita), Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray.
Trivia: John Carpenter was reportedly considered for directing duties; Murray’s role was originally written for Patrick Swayze. Followed by Zombieland: Double Tap (2019).
Quote: “Six people left in the world and one of them is Bill fucking Murray. I know that’s not your middle name. I’ve been watching you since I was like… Since I could masturbate. I mean, not that they’re connected.” (Harrelson to Murray)
Last word: “We definitely went with the fast zombies, the viral zombies, like from 28 Days Later. Our zombies you don’t have to kill by shooting in the head. They’re not undead. They don’t come back from the grave. They’re people that have become infected as opposed to people who have died and supernaturally risen from the grave. Zombie purists don’t even call our zombies zombies, because to be a zombie you have to be undead. That’s something zombie purists can fight about for years and years to come.” (Fleischer, Cinemablend)
