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DEAD MOON RISING
* * * (2007, 98 minutes, Unrated)
The pride of Louisville, KY!
I’ve watched a fair share of cheap-ass movies for this site, and I’ve learned how to spot them
within the opening minutes of the film. And this? Is one cheap-ass movie. Case in point: Here
are my observations from the first three minutes of the film.
RED FLAG #1: The opening credit sequence is a stunningly cheap version of the opening credits
to 2004’s Dawn of the Dead.
* * * (2007, 98 minutes, Unrated)
The pride of Louisville, KY!
I’ve watched a fair share of cheap-ass movies for this site, and I’ve learned how to spot them
within the opening minutes of the film. And this? Is one cheap-ass movie. Case in point: Here
are my observations from the first three minutes of the film.
RED FLAG #1: The opening credit sequence is a stunningly cheap version of the opening credits
to 2004’s Dawn of the Dead.
 |
Despite the promise of becoming an Assistant Manager that
memorizing the corporate binder promises, it’s clearly a dead-
end job, and both Jim and the grizzled Nick know it.
The Cheapskate Car Rental guys can barely stand each other, so
when a customer comes in exhibiting classic signs of a zombie
outbreak begin appearing – like, you know, a zombie – the gang
immediately launches into a debate over whether or not the city is
being plagued by actual zombies. These are the quick moving
post-28 Days Later variety of zombies, which initially has Jim in
denial. If they really were the living dead, Jim argues, “they’d
mope around like DMV clerks on yellows.”
Having missed the news bulletin to evacuate the city, the
Cheapstake Car Rental boys are soon on the run and meet up
with an assortment of survivors/zombie-chow: the lady cop, the
corporate weasel, the religious wingnut. And then there’s April, a
high school field hockey player who’s celebrating her 18th
birthday by being dumped and having her immediately family turn
into zombies. Their plan is to make their way to Bruce’s
Army/Navy Bunker (much to Jim’s dismay) and hole up.
And that’s about it.
Which is okay. The filmmakers wisely opted not to bite off more
than they could chew and kept things simple and dialogue-
memorizing the corporate binder promises, it’s clearly a dead-
end job, and both Jim and the grizzled Nick know it.
The Cheapskate Car Rental guys can barely stand each other, so
when a customer comes in exhibiting classic signs of a zombie
outbreak begin appearing – like, you know, a zombie – the gang
immediately launches into a debate over whether or not the city is
being plagued by actual zombies. These are the quick moving
post-28 Days Later variety of zombies, which initially has Jim in
denial. If they really were the living dead, Jim argues, “they’d
mope around like DMV clerks on yellows.”
Having missed the news bulletin to evacuate the city, the
Cheapstake Car Rental boys are soon on the run and meet up
with an assortment of survivors/zombie-chow: the lady cop, the
corporate weasel, the religious wingnut. And then there’s April, a
high school field hockey player who’s celebrating her 18th
birthday by being dumped and having her immediately family turn
into zombies. Their plan is to make their way to Bruce’s
Army/Navy Bunker (much to Jim’s dismay) and hole up.
And that’s about it.
Which is okay. The filmmakers wisely opted not to bite off more
than they could chew and kept things simple and dialogue-
| Better than you might think it is. |
RED FLAG #2: Our hero breaks the fourth wall early and often.
RED FLAG #3: While talking about the zombie apocalypse that
recently hit his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, we can clearly see
mid-day traffic in the background.
I'm three minutes and already starting to dread the remaining 88.
Fortunately, Dead Moon Rising became a clinic on how to make a
worthwhile film on a shoestring budget.
Of course, the script helps. The filmmakers are clearly big Kevin
Smith fans, and the actors are just good enough to pull off the
dialogue. The story begins with Jim and his co-workers trudging
through another day at Cheapskate Car Rental, fighting boredom,
counting the moments until they can hit the bar and arguing with
out-of-towners about the best way to pronounce "Louisville."
RED FLAG #3: While talking about the zombie apocalypse that
recently hit his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, we can clearly see
mid-day traffic in the background.
I'm three minutes and already starting to dread the remaining 88.
Fortunately, Dead Moon Rising became a clinic on how to make a
worthwhile film on a shoestring budget.
Of course, the script helps. The filmmakers are clearly big Kevin
Smith fans, and the actors are just good enough to pull off the
dialogue. The story begins with Jim and his co-workers trudging
through another day at Cheapskate Car Rental, fighting boredom,
counting the moments until they can hit the bar and arguing with
out-of-towners about the best way to pronounce "Louisville."
based, taking the time to enjoy the genre and even get a bit philosophical. And by "enjoy the
genre," I mean precious moments that include:
For as economical as the film is, it's not lacking in gore – stage blood must have been purchased
wholesale. But the nastier moments, such as halving a zombie up the middle with a chainsaw,
are wisely kept off-screen. By tightening things up, the filmmakers were able to spend the money
on a few key scenes late in the film.
So... There it is. I know it's more fun to tear a movie apart (both for me to write and you to read), but
this is a pretty good movie. Not great, but the acting and effects are just good enough, the script
seems to get better as the movie moves along, and the pacing and shot composition are solid.
The filmmakers deserve some credit for making due with the constraints they had to work with,
and you get the sense that everyone had a great time making the movie.
What do you want for nothin'? Rubber biscuit?
genre," I mean precious moments that include:
- A zombie receiving a wedgie
- The introduction of an unstable Lara Croft-type character
- An extended girl-on-girl make-out scene
- The loving reveal of a BFG leading up to the climax
- An awesomely cheesy moment where a character drops to his knees and shouts
"NOOOOOOOO!!" (if only the budget would have allowed for the customary crane shot)
For as economical as the film is, it's not lacking in gore – stage blood must have been purchased
wholesale. But the nastier moments, such as halving a zombie up the middle with a chainsaw,
are wisely kept off-screen. By tightening things up, the filmmakers were able to spend the money
on a few key scenes late in the film.
So... There it is. I know it's more fun to tear a movie apart (both for me to write and you to read), but
this is a pretty good movie. Not great, but the acting and effects are just good enough, the script
seems to get better as the movie moves along, and the pacing and shot composition are solid.
The filmmakers deserve some credit for making due with the constraints they had to work with,
and you get the sense that everyone had a great time making the movie.
What do you want for nothin'? Rubber biscuit?
Looking for a second opinion? Check out what
Anthony T. had to say in his review over at
FilmArcade.net.
If you enjoyed this review -- a pretty safe bet --
and are interested in some other quality zombie
features, then check out these Bargain Bin
Reviews:
Anthony T. had to say in his review over at
FilmArcade.net.
If you enjoyed this review -- a pretty safe bet --
and are interested in some other quality zombie
features, then check out these Bargain Bin
Reviews:
