Wyrmwood - Road of the Dead.
An Australian film exploring the zombie genre from a slightly different angle and injecting it with some quintessential Australian cultural references.
Unlike some of the zombie genre films we have been watching of late this one is directed, acted, edited and written to a high level. The zombies are believable and have excellent make up work and movement acting.
A particularly special aspect of the film is the inclusion of an indigenous Australian actor not playing a minor role but as a primary support actor. The part of Benny was played by Leon Burchill and he brought the character to life with skill and humor. In fact we found Benny to the be the most likable and realistic character in the movie. We found the use of Leon Burchill refreshing and entertaining and we are hopeful to see him in further roles as his acting was first rate.
We highly recommend giving the film a watch. The film is clearly shot in locations around the Blue Mountains which are west of Sydney. The forests out there a magnificent place to visit and explore (when there isn't a zombie apocalypse going on).
Spoilers section- If you don't want spoilers don't read any further.
For a film and story synopsis go to Wikipedia
Our criticism of the film is primarily in relation to question of flammable liquids. While driving along the road the main charachter is riding with a another person when the car stops working. There appears no cause for this breakdown.
We later meet Frank who demonstrates using flammable liquids that petroleum and mentholated spirits do not burn anymore. Zombie breath however is found to burn and makes a vehicle fuel replacement.
This story line feature in our view was excessive and created a massive hole in the believability of parts of the story. In this it suggested that chemical reactions were not happening as per the rules of chemistry. If this were the case then everyone would have dropped dead pretty quick as the human body runs on a series of chemical reactions.
Further the guns operate on chemical reactions. Although it could be argued the chemicals and reactants involved in the firearms are sealed and thus possibly safe from whatever hindered the reaction we feel that is a weak argument to support the fuel not burning but the guns still working.
We would have accepted the idea that being in back of nowhere they ran out of fuel and there was none to be obtained. This would permit using zombies as a fuel source without having to create a fairly massive change to the operation of chemical reactions.
This would also explain how the bad guy mad scientist and flunkies had operating vehicles without any obvious evidence they were using zombie burps.
Otherwise we were comfortable with the other imaginary aspects such as a form of psychic power (yes its a redesign of the universe but such a story gimmie has less impact that nothing burning).
An Australian film exploring the zombie genre from a slightly different angle and injecting it with some quintessential Australian cultural references.
Unlike some of the zombie genre films we have been watching of late this one is directed, acted, edited and written to a high level. The zombies are believable and have excellent make up work and movement acting.
A particularly special aspect of the film is the inclusion of an indigenous Australian actor not playing a minor role but as a primary support actor. The part of Benny was played by Leon Burchill and he brought the character to life with skill and humor. In fact we found Benny to the be the most likable and realistic character in the movie. We found the use of Leon Burchill refreshing and entertaining and we are hopeful to see him in further roles as his acting was first rate.
We highly recommend giving the film a watch. The film is clearly shot in locations around the Blue Mountains which are west of Sydney. The forests out there a magnificent place to visit and explore (when there isn't a zombie apocalypse going on).
Spoilers section- If you don't want spoilers don't read any further.
For a film and story synopsis go to Wikipedia
Our criticism of the film is primarily in relation to question of flammable liquids. While driving along the road the main charachter is riding with a another person when the car stops working. There appears no cause for this breakdown.
We later meet Frank who demonstrates using flammable liquids that petroleum and mentholated spirits do not burn anymore. Zombie breath however is found to burn and makes a vehicle fuel replacement.
This story line feature in our view was excessive and created a massive hole in the believability of parts of the story. In this it suggested that chemical reactions were not happening as per the rules of chemistry. If this were the case then everyone would have dropped dead pretty quick as the human body runs on a series of chemical reactions.
Further the guns operate on chemical reactions. Although it could be argued the chemicals and reactants involved in the firearms are sealed and thus possibly safe from whatever hindered the reaction we feel that is a weak argument to support the fuel not burning but the guns still working.
We would have accepted the idea that being in back of nowhere they ran out of fuel and there was none to be obtained. This would permit using zombies as a fuel source without having to create a fairly massive change to the operation of chemical reactions.
This would also explain how the bad guy mad scientist and flunkies had operating vehicles without any obvious evidence they were using zombie burps.
Otherwise we were comfortable with the other imaginary aspects such as a form of psychic power (yes its a redesign of the universe but such a story gimmie has less impact that nothing burning).