The Horror Show
Cockneys vs Zombies
Matthias Hoene
I've been a fan of zombies for over fifteen years now. I started off with every horror fan’s favorite public domain classic Night of the Living Dead, which led to Dawn, Day, and then the array of sequels, spinoffs, and tributes that followed. Nowadays, zombies have seen some serious mainstream success. With the success of brilliantly successful films such as Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, along with the popularity of The Walking Dead, zombies are no longer regulated to the horror fans. Because of this, there have been an array of films starring our stumbling friends in the past few years, leading to some success stories and a lot of failures.
When I came across the title Cockneys vs Zombies, I initially assumed that it was some cheesy, shoestring budget, tongue in cheek film throwing in the word “Cockney” simply to find a type of person to square off with the living dead like some cannibalistic mad lib. Then I discovered that it was an actual British film that has been considered to be quite a respected addition to the genre. I'm the last person to think of American films as inferior to any other, but if anyone is going to do a Cockney movie that isn't just one big joke, it's gonna be actual Cockneys. So I decided it was definitely worth checking out. This turned out to be a great decision because this film ended up being one of the finest zombie films I've seen in quite a while.
The film follows Terry (Rasmus Hardiker) and Andy (Harry Treadaway), two brothers who have joined forces with their cousin Katy (Michelle Ryan) to pull off a bank robbery. Their plan comes from a good place, as they are trying to keep the nursing home occupied by the war-veteran grandfather that raised them (Alan Ford) from foreclosure. To help with the job, they recruit Andy's friend Davey (Jack Doolan) and an unhinged psychopath named Mickey (Ashley Thomas). Before they have the chance to enjoy their success or get arrested, they find that the streets are barren, filled only with blood and a roaming zombie plague. Along with two bystanders who start out as hostages, the group sets out to get back to the nursing home and make sure their beloved grandfather survives.
The film mainly focuses on the brothers’ journey but is occasionally dissected to show what’s going on back at the nursing home. Both sides of the story are equally entertaining and the movie never takes one second to ponder or get boring. It's an obvious comparison, but it's the closest thing that I've seen to accompany the 2004 hit Shaun of the Dead. Both films are hilarious, but also are respectful to the genre and tread willingly in the blood-red waters of horror. This film isn't quite as comedic as Shaun, but certainly is filled with wonderful cutaway jokes that serve to better understand the characters, sight gags, and beautifully executed camaraderie between the characters.
Everyone does an amazing job with their parts and the film never hits a sour acting note. The brothers’ chemistry comes across as natural, and no character is left without an interesting personality or reason to keep watching their actions.
As good as everyone is, Alan Ford steals the show as the badass grandfather that would put Rambo to shame. His performance is skillful enough that his character never comes across as an all-out joke or hokey “karate fighting geezer”. Fans of Guy Ritchie's films know him as playing an intimidating “tougher than nails” type and he does not disappoint in this one, he simply gets to have a little more comedic edge.
The film keeps things simple and complex when appropriate. The film itself never gets overwrought or caught up with an origin story or crazy twists. You are thrown right in with the characters, and in terms of storyline, things are kept simple. This works well because it allows you to enjoy the events that transpire. However, when it comes to kills, both of the zombie and human variety, it gets involved and keeps things fresh. While things never reach the level of excess and artistic complexity with the gore (as with Peter Jackson's masterpiece Dead Alive for example) the filmmakers know that no kill can be run-of-the-mill and give just enough originality on that end to keep things interesting.
The effects, which combine a combination of tactile gore and CGI, look great, and give the film a professional feel. Although primarily on the funny side, Cockneys vs Zombies allows itself to explore more serious situations and moments and all those emotional notes hit perfectly. There are no missed marks or crossed wires; the film knows exactly what it wants you to feel and it gets the message across. Things don't really get too serious, however, and it is really more of a non-stop ride that keeps you entertained from beginning to end.
It is so refreshing to see such a quality film put forth into the zombie world. With so many people using zombies as the new cats on the internet, it's easy to forget how great of a project can be accomplished by utilizing their potential. Cockneys vs Zombies is an absolute blast to watch and gets you pumped up and feeling exhilarated. If you are a fan of quality zombie pictures that you won't get to see TV spots for (or find T-Shirts for at Hot Topic), then I would absolutely recommend Cockneys vs Zombies. I can't imagine a single flesh-eating fan who would be disappointed.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
The Horror Show Menu.