Day of the Dead: Bloodline. This is the second remake, or reimagining, of the 1985 George A. Romero film. The original has a big following even with its darker mood when compared to the more infamous Dawn of the Dead from 1978.

A quick look at the Wikipedia page about the movie gives you a rough idea of what to expect. Scroll down to the section where it describes the film’s “Reception” and you’ll read that no one seemed to enjoy this film. I can agree with Brian Tallerico’s review from RogerEbert.com where he stated that “I was just watching people I really didn’t care about…” Unfortunately the movie’s unrelatable characters isn’t the only issue this movie suffers from.

I was very much looking forward to this film, as I mention on Instagram & Facebook. It’s been a while since a good action zombie movie has been set upon the world. I didn’t get what we hoped for.

The movie starts out with the zombie epidemic all ready in progress and people running around in the streets fighting off the living dead, who in the film can run, jump and fight. “these creatures are tearing up the city”, says a new reporter at the beginning but it feels more like they are just tearing up this one street and it looks like it’s just a handful of them. Then we have a lead character almost calmly walking through the street watching people get mauled. This city block is in real danger from what seems to be about 5 zombies. This opening scene set the tone for the rest of the film.

Most of the characters seem topical in that there doesn’t seem to be much behind them. The acting wasn’t bad, but it was great either. Some of them had lines that seemed very pointless, like they were trying to make things cool. At no point do you feel connected to anyone character enough to even care what happens to them. The cast also seemed to be all the same age. A military base being run 20 something year olds doesn’t seem realistic.

Overall the movie felt small. The global scale of the zombie take over wasn’t fully expressed and the military compound the movie takes place in feels limited making it feel like a set and taking me out of the story. Everyone seems much to calm and clean for what’s going on. The original had a kind of dirty grime throughout the film that reminds you that they are underground, they are hiding, they are running out of supplies and patience with each other.

The movie comes across like a very good attempt, and I do mean attempt, at a decent horror film. They had everything one would need to make a good film. The make-up effects where good for the most part and it had some very nice visual shots here and there.

I wouldn’t say stay away from the film, those true horror lovers out there will definitely want to give it view. Just don’t expect anything great. The movie did entertain, like a movie should, it just didn’t make you think or care. It was like having a flat watered down soda as opposed to a crisp new fizzy flavorful drink.