A clever mash-up of the horror, fantasy, holiday and musical genres, “Anna and the Apocalypse” was released earlier this month in the US on DVD. A hit across the pond, at festival circuits, as well as here in the US, the British film is a cult classic-in-the-making and after viewing I truly get why.
The movie follows protagonist Anna, a teen who’s struggling with her mom’s death and school rumors – the latter related to her crush on possibly the wrong guy. She’s looking forward to skipping town after graduation, but a zombie apocalypse unexpectedly disrupts not only her plans to get away, but the entire globe and its holiday season. Assisted by a group of friends, and frenemies, Anna must fight her way through a mass zombies – to save the lives of Anna’s father and everyone the group cares about, including themselves.
More gory than scary, I enjoyed a lot of the humor in the film and thought the story was really tight. It’s very reminiscent of classics like “Dawn of the Dead”, albeit not as scary, and “Shaun of the Dead,” with the humor of the latter and with societal allegory like both contained.
I was a bit thrown by the first musical number, after not reading any of the press materials beforehand, but quickly got used to it and even rocked a bit to several of the tunes – especially “Soldier At War” featuring Ben Wiggins.
But make no mistake, “Anna and the Apolcalypse” is a niche film, tailor-made for those who enjoy dark humor and zombie movies, with easy appeal for the teen scream camp.
A zombie fantasy with a musical flair, that fits right in line with the upcoming holiday season, “Anna and the Apocalypse” is a fun watch for anyone who’s not easily grossed out and enjoys a good laugh. But be mindful, there is an R rating and it’s not for the little ones. I rate it a 3 out of 5 on the MMTrometer.
You can get additional info about the film, including where to purchase or stream, at the official website here.
Until next thought, Thomasena
ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE out now on DVD
Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven -at Christmas -forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other.
Cast: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux, Ben Wiggins, Marli Siu, Mark Benton, Paul Kaye, Ella Jarvis
Director: John McPhail
Screenwriters: Ryan McHenry, Alan McDonald
Producers: Naysun Alae-Carew, Nicholas Crum, Tracy Jarvis
Music and lyrics: Roddy Hart, Tommy Reilly
Running Time: 93 minutes
Rating: R for zombie violence and gore, language, and some sexual material
Bonus Featurette: ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE: Behind the Scenes
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