In a world the place many movie snobs are decided to bury the zombie fad at each nook, we nonetheless appear to seek out fascinating and enjoyable films within the style every year, often coming from international locations aside from the U.S. Wyrmwood: Apocalypse is an Australian manufacturing that’s working with some more energizing our bodies and a few fascinating concepts, it’s additionally a sequel to Wyrmwood: Street of the Useless, which I wasn’t conscious of till after the movie began. The trailer was sufficient to promote me with out further analysis, capturing a way of surreal absurdity and that feeling of being excessive after the top of society, which the film saved going. Nobody actually has to see the opposite Wyrmwood first, however now I’m undoubtedly going to test it out.
We begin off following Rhys, even when he doesn’t really feel like the primary character, and are given a glimpse into his routine and intelligent setup for a make-shift bunker. It’s essential to eat properly and keep in form through the zombie apocalypse, so why not spar with just a few of them once they can’t harm you, or use a few the lifeless on bikes to assist run some electrical energy. It’s a terrific introduction to inform us just a little bit of data with out making him really feel too essential. He appears to be a bounty hunter of some sort, capturing others and delivering them to a army group that’s imagined to be on the lookout for a remedy, and anybody who has seen just a few of those can immediately inform that issues are about to go south for this soldier.
Rhys has some cool weapons that get numerous use. He seems to be like Bane in his full gear and drives round in a rad truck. The soldier additionally has just a few surprises up his sleeves for when he will get into bother, exhibiting himself to be fairly able to surviving this darkish and ugly model of the world. This explicit project although, to herald somebody who’s a half-zombie hybrid, shortly units him on a harmful path when he chooses to do the precise factor. That’s the introduction of two different characters, however then two extra be a part of up as properly, to kind an entire staff of indignant ass-kickers. Quickly it’s an ensemble solid with everybody having their moments. There may be an odd feeling that these characters wanted extra time, however a few of them have been established within the first film, and it seems Rhys had an evil twin brother who was in that one too. That will sound like rather a lot, but it surely’s not onerous to maintain most of this straight with the dialog.
The vast majority of the performing within the movie is properly performed and the strains really feel pure, or becoming for the characters at the least. There isn’t a lot banter, however the small little bit of humor lands firmly in most scenes. The entire performers appear to be they have been having a very good time when the cameras have been rolling and it exhibits with the hassle they put in. The villains are virtually archetypes for the style, however the ardour and over-the-top power is infectious – simple to hate. I really like how the underground portion of the bottom is colorfully lit to assist present The Surgeon’s madness. It additionally makes this atmosphere stand out in opposition to the opposite Australian landscapes and permits a few of the set items to clue audiences in on how far the world has gone.
The plot will not be extremely sturdy, however the movie was doing fascinating issues inside it. Though the pacing was brisk, I discovered myself wanting extra world-building on varied topics: how they have been utilizing zombies for gas, the logistics of the capsules and serums, extra in regards to the blood vials that saved the hybrids calm, and the way a few of these weapons and autos have been made. This doesn’t make up for what missing there may be in the primary story, but it surely does have me within the property as a collection.
As soon as all the items are in place it turns into clear what the third act will likely be. Up till this level the movie has had just a few odd tonal shifts, the place at occasions the world appears extremely severe and forlorn, and at different factors it’s humorous and a bit wacky, however by no means goofy. It stays coloring throughout the strains for essentially the most half, however when the ultimate act hits, numerous that’s thrown out. The hybrid zombies get to indicate off their powers, the mad scientist makes use of a computerized undead champion to combat his battles together with having some corny typical villain-esque music, and the underground facility turns into a slaughtering floor simply earlier than the inevitable self-destruct sequence. It’s all splendidly enjoyable and a tad zany, however every second is at the least entertaining. For followers of zombies, blood, gore, and ridiculous outcomes, it’s onerous to think about wanting a lot else.
It was like watching Military of the Useless if it had a smaller funds with higher unhealthy guys and a few tighter world-building. My solely actual drawback with Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, if there may be one, could be the 2 characters who sacrificed themselves solely to pop up once more on the finish for a tease. That is an pleasurable film although, and one which makes me suppose I ought to watch extra Ozploitation movies sooner or later. It gained’t redefine the style or remedy zombie fatigue, however there’s a pulse there for anybody on the lookout for a very good time.
SCORE: 7.5/10
As ComingSoon’s overview coverage explains, a rating of seven.5 equates to “Good.” A profitable piece of leisure that’s value trying out, however it might not enchantment to everybody.
