Forget about vampires—here come the zombies…
And THIS one is (almost) a heart breaker. Who knows, it may even make flesh snacking fashionable.
WARM BODIES is a zombie romance in a lifeless world wiped out by a mysterious plague, or something along those lines. Humanity reduced to small numbers domesticating in salvaged sporting arenas.
As for the undead?
They’re wandering around aimlessly feasting on living flesh. But their preferred dish is human brains which allow them to experience their victims’ memories.
And that’s where the romance comes into play.
Seems hungry zombie R (Nicholas Hoult) has devoured the brains of Perry Kelvin (Dave Franco) which now allows him to experience the victims emotions and love. That being Julie Grigio (Teresa Palmer), the hottie daughter of general Grigio (John Malkovich), leader of the (still) living.
And all that brain food is now making for a most unlikely hot-cold relationship. Especially after R rescues Julie from imminent death at the hands of his fellow brain munchers, setting in motion events that not only will transform him, but shine the light of goodness and hope on his fellow zombies.
So it goes in this fast paced 98 minute-long exploration of warm, star crossed lovers in what has become a very cold world. Well almost.
Translation: Cold body. Warm heart.
Is there some weird connection to William Shakespeare here? Perhaps. The story reeks of Romeo and Juliet but works on a lot of different levels.
The biting humor and references within make for deliciously deadly laughs which our screening audience was partaking of in large doses.
Let’s face it, with THE TWILIGHT SAGA now gone forever, there’s a need for a new romantic offering in the world of the living dead and this film could very easily fill the void.
The classic zombie concept really works here,as in, sensitive zombie digs living hottie. Why not?
And the film’s soundtrack which includes the likes of Bruce Springsteen‘s ‘Hungry Heart’ and John Waite‘s ‘Missing You’ nails it.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see this movie wind up with a cult following down the road.
That’s why I’m raising 3-1/2 out of 5 zombiefied fingers for Jonathan Levine’s WARM BODIES.
Catch JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on KMBZ Fm & Am / Also anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND-Channel 411 / And throughout Nebraska on NEBRASKA ON DEMAND.
“…wert thou as far
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandise.”
But NOT for this movie.
From the picture, it looks like they are targeting the The Twilight crowd.