Starring Kristopher Turner, Crystal Lowe, Shawn Roberts, Kristen Hager, Emilie Ullerup and Stephen McHattie.
Directed by Casey Walker
Direct off its win at the Canadian Film Fest last month, devoted to Canadian indie film, A Little Bit Zombie has taken a different tact to releasing the film to the masses. By self-distributing, the creators of the film have decided to roll the film out across the country with special screenings and the hope that they will inspire longer runs in the following weeks. I got to attend one of these screenings at the Toronto Underground Cinema and am here to tell you that this film deserves your support.
A Little Bit Zombie starts off with Max (McHattie) and Penelope (Ullerup), a pair of zombie hunters that use a mystical orb to help track their targets, in the middle of a zombie swarm. After the carnage we follow, through first person camera, a mosquito full of zombie blood fly around in search of a target. We meet Steve (Turner), Tina (Lowe) his fiancé, Craig (Roberts) his best friend and upcoming Best Man, and Sarah (Hager) Steve’s sister who is also Tina’s unwitting Matron of Honor and Craig’s wife. The foursome is on their way to Steve and Sarah’s family cottage for a weekend of bonding and relaxation before the wedding. Our mosquito friend attacks Steve, repeatedly, which sets off the events of the film, with Steve slowly turning into a zombie and developing a lust for brains. In fact, Steve develops a certain hilariously grotesque response to even the word ‘brains’. The “family” must decide what to do and how to handle what is happening to Steve, all while Max and Penelope start tracking the strange readings that will lead them straight to him. Tina proves she is willing to go to extreme lengths to protect her man and her upcoming nuptials, dragging Sarah along with her, while Craig has the hardest time dealing with the situation. Everything leads to crazy confrontation with a deadly outcome.
ALBZ shares a lot of similar themes with last year’s Zom-Com Deadheads (review here), with the biggest difference being that ALBZ is not a road movie like Deadheads is. The Cast is mostly up and coming Canadian talent, with McHattie the grizzled veteran chewing massive amounts of scenery. And while McHattie does steal the film, the foursome all put in fine performances, in particular Turner and Lowe as the engaged couple. The film is very light in tone and played for laughs throughout, and while in places it runs hit and miss, when it works it’s a lot of fun. Fans of the aforementioned Deadheads should check this one out as well.
Overall I feel that ALBZ works a lot more than it doesn’t. The exuberance and earnestness of the cast shines through, and the film benefits from this greatly. I can safely recommend A Little Bit Zombie for a fun night out at the theater, and I am NOT a zombie collaborator.
Screenings may be mostly finished by the time you get to read this, but do not shy away from asking your local rep theater if they can get a screening in your area. It’s a great chance to support some Canadian filmmakers out there trying to prove they can do it themselves.
Till Next Time,
Movie Junkie TO
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This sounds like a fun watch. I recognize Kristen Hager from the US version of Being Human which she is really good in. I’m in the U.S. so it may be a little while until I actually get to see this. It sounds like a somewhat different take on the zom-com genre.
It may take a bit, not sure if they will get a US theatrical, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for. Thanks for the comment.
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