We Are Zombies
| We Are Zombies | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | François Simard Anouk Whissell Yoann-Karl Whissell |
| Written by |
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| Based on | The Zombies That Ate the World by Jerry Frissen |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Jean-Philippe Bernier |
| Edited by | Joris Laquittant |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Capella Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Countries | Canada France |
We Are Zombies is a 2023 Canadian French zombie horror comedy film based on the comic series The Zombies That Ate the World written and directed by Yoann-Karl Whissell, François Simard and Anouk Whissell. The film stars Alexandre Nachi, Derek Johns and Megan Peta Hill.[1]
Plot
[edit]In the near future, Necropolis is a city overrun with non-flesheating but stinking and highly annoying zombies known as the “Living Impaired” and where dim-witted giant Freddy, horny nerd Karl, and his foul-mouthed sister Maggie make a living by illegally disposing of unwanted zombies.
This trio of unlikely heroes pick up zombies by posing as workers for Coleman’s Retirement Services for the Living-impaired, a division of the Coleman megacorporation, and sell them to various buyers, such as Don, a shady art gallery manager who exhibits art made of zombie parts.
While Karl spends all of his share of the proceeds on webcam zombie girl Zombirella and Choose Your Own Adventure books, and Freddy gobbles fast food while unsuccessfully flirting with Maggie, Stanley, the head of security at Coleman, finds out about their fraudulent activity. But instead of turning the trio in, Stanley has his own agenda, holding Karl and Maggie’s grandma captive and demanding a ransom. Panicked at the thought of gathering the ransom money, the trio takes on the job of digging up the body of a famous dead actress for a collector of zombie celebrities.
As the stakes get higher and the obstacles pile up, Maggie, Karl and Freddy uncover a conspiracy involving Coleman Industries. A conspiracy that our heroes ultimately defeat, in the process turning the placid living-impaired into rabid zombies, triggering the real Zombie Apocalypse.
Cast
[edit]- Alexandre Nachi as Karl Neard
- Derek Johns as Freddy Mercks
- Megan Peta Hill as Maggie
- Vincent Leclerc as Seth Mckenna
- Stéphane Demmers as Otto Maddox
- Carlo Mestroni as Don
- Guy Nadon as Bob Coleman
- Patrick Abellard as Stanley
- Marc-André Boulanger as Rocco
- Rosemarie Sabor as Jane
- Clare Coulter as Mrs. Neard
- Teneisha Collins as Chelsea Lee
- Dusan Dukic as Brad Thompson
- Michelle Leblanc as Dr. Judith West
- Adrian Burhop as Oscar
- Kevin Woodhouse as State Ranger
- Benz Antoine as Hannity
- Charles Groulx as Pop pop
- David-Emmanuel Jauniaux as Road kill zombie
- Bianca De Luca as Beverly
- Frédérique Proulx as Susan Mckenna
- Odile Prouveur as Mother Theresa
- Hinde Rabbaj as Meteo Lady
- Aiden Shapiro as Twin Goon #1
Production
[edit]Filming
[edit]The cast started to shoot the film on March 29, 2022, around Montreal, Canada.[2]
Release
[edit]The film premiered at Fantasia International Film Festival on August 9, 2023,[3] Fantasy Filmfest on September 6, 2023,[4] Slash Film Festival on September 22, 2023,[5] Fantastic Fest on September 23, 2023[6] and Festival Européen du Film Fantastique de Strasbourg on September 27, 2023.
The film also premiered at Sitges Film Festival on October 8, 2023,[7] Celluloid Screams on October 19, 2023,[8][9] IFI Horrorthon on October 26, 2023,[10] Toulouse Grindhouse Paradise Festival on April 27, 2024[11] and it is scheduled to release on Russia on August 15, 2024.
Reception
[edit]Trace Thurman of Bloody Disgusting rate the film 3½ over 5 rating and wrote: We Are Zombies is a delightful, if slight, entry into the zombie sub-genre. It never goes beyond its surface-level observations, but it also doesn't have such lofty ambitions, so it's hard to hold that against it. Plus, it's so goddamn charming you're going to have a difficult time not having a complete and utter blast with it.[12]
Donald Plante of Infamous Horror gave the film a perfect 5/5 rating and wrote: We Are Zombies refuses to take itself too seriously. While not falling into the B-movie category, it's sure to appeal to enthusiasts of indie horror films made on a shoestring budget. The gore effects are impressive and put on quite the spectacle. Each RKSS film stands apart from the rest, and this one is no exception. Undoubtedly, this movie will captivate zombie comedy aficionados, and it's well worth a watch for the sheer enjoyment it brings; it's a future cult classic that could rival Turbo Kid.[13]
Matt Donato of Slashfilm rate the film 7 out of 10 and he wrote: "We Are Zombies" is an uneven zom-com until the third act's elegant gala backdrop becomes a living impaired feeding ground. You'll have tons of fun with the gore once circular saws spring geysers of bloody juices, and will laugh heartily throughout. There's just less to get excited about in certain scenes, like behind closed Coleman doors. Thankfully, RKSS muster "Turbo Kid" energy in enough bursts to power the charmingly oddball "We Are Zombies," offering an exotic zombie take along the lines of "Fido" or "Warm Bodies" (with more butt munching).[14]
SAF Movie Reviews rated it 64 out of 100 and said: "A pleasant little gore comedy with some witty dialogue and cool one-liners. Standing not out might be its biggest flaw because the ingredients to create awesomeness are all there.[15]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fantasia International Film Festival | Best Québec Feature | RKSS | Won | [16] |
| 2024 | Fant, Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival | Best Film | We Are Zombies | Nominated | [17] |
References
[edit]- ^ Hamman, Cody. "We Are Zombies: Turbo Kid directors RKSS making comedy based on The Zombies That Ate the World". JoBlo.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (April 25, 2023). "'Turbo Kid's' Canadian Filmmaking Trio to Direct 'We Are Zombies;' Kinology Boards Sales (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "We Are zombies - Fantasia Festival". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "We Are Zombies - fantasyfilmfest". Fantasy Filmfest. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "We Are Zombies". slashfilmfestival.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "WE ARE ZOMBIES 2023". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "We Are Zombies - RKSS". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "CELLULOID SCREAMS 2023". Celluloid Screams. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Mack, Andrew (September 8, 2023). "Celluloid Screams 2023: WE ARE ZOMBIES to Open, THE CHAPEL to Close Sheffield, UK Genre Festival". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ "Horrorthon is back, October 26th - 30th!". Irish Film Institute. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "AVRIL 2024 Épisode V". Grindhouse Paradise. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Thurman, Trace (September 25, 2023). "'We Are Zombies' Fantastic Fest Review – Zombie Comedy Oozes Charm (Among Other Things)". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Plante, Donald (August 10, 2023). "[Fantasia] 'We Are Zombies' Review: The Cult Film by RKSS We've All Been Waiting For". Infamous Horror. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ Donato, Matt (September 24, 2023). "We Are Zombies Review: A Slacker Comedy For The Living Impaired [Fantastic Fest 2023]". Slashfilm. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "SAF Movie Reviews". YouTube.
- ^ "FANTASIA'S 27th EDITION TO AWARD NICOLAS CAGE, CLOSE WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF RKSS' WE ARE ZOMBIES". Fantasia Festival. July 5, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "THE BILBAO FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL – FANT WILL START THE PROCEEDINGS OF ITS 25TH EDITION WITH THE SCREENING OF JOE PENNA'S "ARCTIC"". Fant Bilbao. Retrieved May 31, 2024.