WORLD OF THE DEAD - THE ZOMBIE DIARIES 2

WORLD OF THE DEAD - THE ZOMBIE DIARIES 2
DVD region 2. Metrodome.

“Three months have passed since a viral outbreak wiped out 99.9% of the world’s population, turning its victims into flesh-eating living dead. In the UK a surviving band of soldiers and civilians have taken refuge at a rural military barracks. Life in this new world is tough and brutal, but hope appears when a high-level communication is received from a military base on the coast, telling of sanctuary elsewhere in Europe… But just as salvation appears to be in reach, the base suffers an overwhelming defeat at the hands of the living dead! The surviving handful of troops and civilians must now make their way to the coast to uncover the truth behind the message. Their perilous journey takes them across a now treacherous, death-ravaged landscape, where the living dead are vast in number and wandering bandits impose their own malicious sense of law and order. What follows is a journey into hell and a desperate battle against all odds for the very survival of the human race.”

Well, not quite. I think it’s fair to say that World of the Dead: Zombie Diaries 2 is a rather bland and repetitive affair. And whilst the first instalment from back in 2006 was mildly entertaining (I’m being kind here), the sequel simply shambles through its 88 minute running time. Any attempts at characterisation falls flat, as does the derivative plot. I am utterly bored with the whole found footage and hand held camera routine. It’s never been done better than in Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust and it’s been strictly downhill since then. Besides, can someone please tell me why soldiers are shooting a documentary in an apparently zombie infested Britain?

Now don’t get me wrong, I love some gut munching film fun and zombie films have always held a special place in my black heart. The thing is, there are so many micro budget efforts doing the rounds these days – often with virtually the same plot – that any new film simply has to come up with the gory goods. This is where World of the Dead really fails…miserably. Each sighting of the walking dead is either shot in complete darkness or through the cam’s “night vision”, no doubt to hide the cheap quality of the make-up. I accept that being a small budget film, elaborate effects are unlikely, but no zombie film worth its offal would all but hide the living dead from its audience. Worse still, when we do get to see them doing their thing, the fake film jumps and fuzz spoil any onscreen action with the continual overuse of crackle and shake.

But hey, what do I know. According to the Fangoria sourced blurb on the US poster art it’s the “Best Horror Movie of the Year, Genius”…Personally, I thought it was a steaming pile. There's no accounting for taste.

The DVD was released on 27th June 2011. I for one will be avoiding it like a mysterious viral outbreak.