Zombies At Tiffany's - AudioReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash
"At the right time, in the right light, everything is extraordinary"

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"A steampunked story of diamonds, chutzpah, death and horror from the blood-drenched pen of Sam Stone."

Author Sam Stone came to my attention after reading the first in her "The Vampire Gene" book series, "Killing Kiss", a tale of seventeenth century vampire Gabriele Caccini. I have been a fan of the vampire genre since my first taste of Hammer Films productions such as "Dracula AD 1972", and so this was just right down my street, along the darkest alley, and through the creepiest cemetery. In 2012, this talented lady published a title via the Telos Publishing label featuring my second favourite creature: "Zombies At Tiffany's", a novella set in 1862, gives us jewellery, Steampunk weaponry, balls, and enough narrative to satisfy. Having had the fortune to review an audiobook adaptation, skillfully produced by those hard-working people at Spokenworld Audio, it was time to review...

"Zombies" is the first in the "Kat Lightfoot Mysteries", a Steampunk adventure that will absorb from beginning to end. This is also my first step into Steampunk, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect... Set during the American Civil War, we first encounter Henry (the part read by Texas-born and award-winning voice artist Kaleo Griffith), whose own experiences of a strange sickness affecting fellow soldiers on the battlefield are recorded in a letter to his sister, Kat. Next we are introduced to Kat Lightfoot (this is where American-born Stephanie Cannon takes over as narrator), whose immediate worries are supporting her family. She is offered a job at Tiffany’s Jewellery Store, in New York, where her pleasant and sparky demeanor shines as an asset to the company. Things are going relatively well, for awhile. That is, until an evil reveals itself, engulfing the neighbourhood into a bloody battlefield of its very own! A zombie plague, manifesting in the bodies of the living, threatens to plunge America, and quite probably the world, into darkness.

Stone's attention to detail, and knowledge of historical events, is impressive as she weaves a fascinating drama quite different from what you would first expect. The American Civil War, and Tiffany's as a location, are superb choices; as are the characters, whose fates bring them together in a battle against the undead.

Reminiscent of Dan O'Bannon's 1985 comedy horror "Return of the Living Dead" ("Brains!"), Sam Stone's use of the "I'm hungry!" element really does add that extra shiver, giving her zombies a voice instead of just a shuffling presence. Though "dead", there is clearly something else within them, a presence... the sickness! This defines them as supernatural, and linked by a single consciousness, unlike zombies of other tales, who wander aimlessly. This is proven by their ability to turn on any zombie that truly "dies", thus no longer possessed by this horrifying illness. They are also able to communicate with one another, even when not in the same room, or building.

So just what is Kat's portrayal in the novella? Well, firstly she is a simple girl, but one with steel determination and guts. When the world falls apart she takes to defending Tiffany's with weaponry engineered by the store's jewellery designer, Martin, whose talents produce some remarkably sophisticated additions, to say the least. Though the majority of the characters are likable, it is Kat who shines, as well she should. This is her story, and one that illuminates throughout. The dialogue, sharp and widely descriptive, sets the scenes perfectly. Cut off from her mother and sister - and brother - the options are limiting. But this heroine refuses to give up the fight. Think Ellen Ripley's kick-ass attitude in the "Alien" films combined with the sophistication of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women", and you get the idea...

I was intrigued by an email received from the author, following initial contact. Her research revealed that Tiffany and Co. had produced "surgical instruments and weapons for the American Civil War" - I looked a little closer into this and read on several websites that the store specialised in decorative guns and swords in the 1850s, with work on these rising during the 1861 to 1865 conflict. This knowledge adds extra dimension to "Zombies At Tiffany's", an audiobook that I just had to relisten to a second time.

Though it plays homage to Truman Capote's 1958 novella "Breakfast At Tiffany's", Stone's approach to "Zombies" allows for a world of its very own, with room for follow-ups such as "Kat on a Hot Tin Airship" (published by www.telos.co.uk). To make it clear, Kat Lightfoot's adventure is not a parody of Capote's story - as writer Seth Grahame-Smith's 2009 book "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" did for Jane Austen's masterpiece - but an original tale with three-dimensional characters and a fine premise! You can be forgiven for thinking the former. However, it is recommended that any horror fan take a look at both this and the author's other collection of work, which includes "Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings". Poor America, it is getting a terrible zombie battering of late...

(Just out of interest, the wonderful covers for both "Zombies At Tiffany's" and "Kat on a Hot Tin Airship" are designed by Martin Baines - both utterly delicious! Baines's work includes designing the cover for "White Witch of Devil's End", illustrating covers for Sam Stone's "A Vampire Gene" novels, and art for advertising)

And so to the audiobook itself: Spokenworld Audio always chooses wisely with narrators, and Stephanie Cannon is most definitely a treasure trove of genius! If you have ever listened to the audio samples on this lady's official website then you will know just how versatile and talented she can be. Cannon also narrated the audiobook of "Zombies in New York", produced by Ladbroke Audio and originally available via the now defunct AudioGO Ltd. Award-winning writer and producer Neil Gardner gives us a four-hour audiobook of the finest caliber, with Kaleo Griffith equally delivering as Kat's brother. And as you would expect for zombies, there are some scenes adult in nature, with strong language to match!

Conclusion? Sam Stone's gothic tale of steampunk offers gore delight and pleasant company with Kat Lightfoot. You may need a cat...

You can obtain the audiobook of "Zombies At Tiffany's" for download at Spokenworld Audio (£7.99 ex. VAT for UK/EU), or purchase Zombies At Tiffany's from the Starfoyer Enterprise Store: Book - Paperback

Picture courtesy of Spokenworld Audio

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Apocalypse Z (2013) - FilmReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

Not to be confused with the vastly superior - and bigger budget - "World War Z".

Often, when I come across a low budget indie film, I keep a distance. The bad acting, dire special effects (if any), and the direction usually leave a very nasty taste in my mouth. That said, I am a fan of some Web Series that just seem to hit the right buttons in style and direction, acting and vision. Please don't misunderstand, I have great respect for the indie market, but even with a low budget there must always be a focus to make the best possible feature - if you have talent, it will show!

"Apocalypse Z" is one of those features that has some good, and plenty of bad. Its downfalls are quite clear to anyone who actually sits through a viewing. Directed by Luca Boni and Marco Ristori, there is so much inconsistency and weakly-executed scenes that the whole affair feels laughable. Even the characters and dialogue are cliches without an attempt at some originality. As for the "plot", the US government sends a group of mercenaries into a Romanian town after the local population is infected by a toxic chemical, turning them all into zombies. We discover that the deadly chemical is actually a US experiment gone wrong, or at least, it is from a scientist's point of view. However, the military has other ideas. The town wasn't meant to be overcome by the chemical's affects, but an explosion at the research facility leads to a rapid spread and infection.

Originally titled "Zombie Massacre", the creators of this feature had clearly been inspired by financial possibilities and renamed it "Apocalypse Z" to cash in on the success of Brad Pitt's far superior "World War Z". Sadly, the "Z" is really all they have in common, as there is no comparing the two. Of course, the latter has a far superior budget too, so perhaps a comparison is unfair.

So, to the positives. Well, many of the zombie makeup effects are actually quite good. And the female cast outshine their male colleagues in every way. The opening scenes of a Romanian woman returning from work to feed her father (or husband) actually sets the atmosphere well, with her stepping out onto her apartment balcony to investigate the source of a distant explosion, only to see smoke rising and feel droplets of dark liquid on her hand. Inside, the droplets contaminate her and she mutates.

What follows the opening title sequence is far too much tedious dialogue without any zombies at all. Instead, for example, there is a long scene featuring mercenaries John 'Mad Dog' McKellen (Mike Mitchell) and Dragan Ilic (Daniel Vivian) as they discuss absolutely nothing at all. There are too many moments such as this, where there is a lot of talk but nothing that matters or adds to the plot. Thankfully, fellow mercenary Eden Shizuka (played by Tara Cardinal, above) says little until it is needed.

One of the things that really stands out with this feature is, no matter their nationality, the actors just do not try to match an accent to their character - this unforgivably leads to the President of the United States ("portrayed" by controversial director and "actor" Ewe Boll) having a German accent! And then there are the supposed skills that the mercenaries possess: highly-trained soldiers who seem as inept at skillfully firing guns as an over-excited badger, a female whose sword-fighting skills seem to be deeply lacking in... skill (sorry, Tara, but more training was needed), and decisions that just didn't make any military sense. Speaking of military sense, why would the US government send in to a small Romanian town this ragged group with an atomic bomb and not, let's say, fire a missile instead?

I can see that there is much fun to be had (which I am sure includes Boll delivering a German-accented US President), but this is neither a zombie comedy nor a serious attempt at a decent movie, it lies somewhere in between, and that remains the problem - it is "The Expendables" meets "The Walking Dead" without the talent! When being advertised with its original title, "Zombie Massacre" had the tagline: "There is no hope". At times that is precisely how the making of this movie feels...

It is true that the zombie genre is being over-saturated by the movie market, but there is always room for more well written and crafted films. Even at his worst, master of horror George A. Romero still manages to deliver a decent feature film.

It is a shame, as "Apocalypse Z" could have been so much more. Its use of make-up effects and design is passionately approving. However, what we are given is a low-budget feature with no great expectations of its own success - why rename your project to mirror a major successful Hollywood film unless you are desperate for an audience? It is clear that writers/directors Boni and Ristori thought "Zombie Massacre" unable to succeed on its own merits. Their own lack of faith is telling in itself. Also, if Boll's inclusion wasn't bad enough, there is even the "Resident Evil" Nemesis-like creature to bring this adventure to a "sharp" climax. Honestly, I would rather watch "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (2004) and enjoy the real thing.

For die-hard zombie fans only. Not to be confused with "Infection Z" (2013) or any other project that carries the same letter.

Purchase Apocalypse Z from the Store:
DVD - Running time: 90 minutes

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Night of the Comet (1984) - FilmReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

"It was the last thing on Earth they ever expected."

Imagine a movie, one watched so many years ago now that the title had become temporarily forgotten, a gem of a sci-fi tale featuring sisters Regina "Reggie" (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Samantha "Sam" (Kelli Maroney), who wake one morning to discover that the Human race has vanished, replaced by red dust and a scattering of clothes. Written and directed by Thom Eberhardt, "Night of the Comet" focuses on an apocalyptic event caused by the passing of Earth through a comet's tail. Crowds gather in districts all over the world to watch this unusual event. The problem is, the comet's previous encounter with the blue planet took place 65 million years ago, coinciding with a similar event that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Of course, what follows isn't exactly logical, but the fun to be had allows for the script to take liberties. The night of the comet, an electrical storm, and then sunrise...

Having spent the night with her boyfriend Larry (Michael Bowen) in the projection booth of a local movie theatre where she works, Reggie is unaware that anything strange has occurred outside. However, when separated, Larry is killed by a zombie-like Human affected by the comet's presence and Reggie flees, returning home to find her young sister alive and ignorant to what has occurred in the past few hours. As realisation dawns, the two women hear the voice of a DJ and head for the radio station, believing there to be other survivors. The disc jockey's voice, as it turns out, is a recorded message, the whole radio production automated. Just when all seems lost, Hector Gomez (Robert Beltran) makes an appearance, gun in hand. Sci-fi fans will no doubt remember Beltran for his portrayal of Commander Chakotay on "Star Trek: Voyager".

Seeing how the "storm" worked so incredibly well, one does wonder why the Martians didn't launch such an attack in HG Wells' classic 1898 novel - fighting-machines just seem so inadequate by comparison now... It is also interesting to compare Eberhardt's story with both George Romero's "Day of the Dead" and Boris Sagal's "The Omega Man". Of course, there is a little of "Maniac Cop" thrown in for good measure during a nightmare sequence involving the pretty Samantha (Maroney) in a rest room.

"Night of the Comet" takes no foot wrong as it mixes sci-fi with horror and comedy in a perfect blend, and the pairing of Stewart and Maroney nothing less than superb casting, both actors relishing in the parts given. Even among realisation that the world has suffered terrible loss, the spirited young ladies manage to enjoy "shopping" at a local mall to the bouncy sound of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", during which they are being watched and ultimately attacked by stockboys infected by the virus that transforms survivors into zombies, although their present state is less advanced than the one who had killed Larry earlier on in the movie. An amusing line in the shopping mall, as the leader says, "Just a few days ago we were only stockboys, now we own the store".

Though Reggie and Sam are the true stars, let us not forget the importance of scientist Audrey White (Mary Woronov) and her team, who are seeking out other survivors and taking them back to their desert underground installation, though their motives may not be entirely good natured. When the girls meet this dedicated team of "experts", there is much trust and the sisters are separated, Reggie transported by air to the base and Sam being told she is infected but a simple injection will cure her.

When I think back to films that captured my heart from long ago, this is most definitely one of them - another being the romantic sci-fi "Starcrossed" (1985). "Night of the Comet" gives you girls with Uzi's, zombies with ambition, and enough red dust to twin the Earth with Mars... The movie is so engaging you will not want it to end. In a time when films are now far too reliant on CGI, it is a pleasure to take a look back at something that had minimum special effects but shined with such character. The ending, too, doesn't fail in delivering the fun - Sam is somewhat agitated by her sister warning her not to cross the road before waiting for the lights to change. The young girl looks about her at the ghost town, bemused. Ignoring the advice, she moves to make a demonstration in the road that there is no one else around, just as a car comes into view and screeches to a halt, to Sam's amazement. The young man in the driver's seat instantly takes her eye. She thanks her lucky stars...

Being reminded of just how amusing the 1980s could be really brings a smile. I am so looking forward to revisiting further classic cinema and television from this and other decades. Perhaps "Nighthawks", a 1981 movie featuring Catherine Mary Stewart? That said, how dare Dutch actor Rutger Hauer commit such a horrific act of terrorism and murder her during an attack on a London department store!

Purchase Night of the Comet from the Store:
Blu-ray + DVD - Running time: 95 minutes

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World War Z (2013) - FilmReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


"There will be no warning"... Taking a look at the blockbuster featuring Brad Pitt, zombies, and a ladder of Climbers.

Just when did the zombie culture become so successful as a film franchise? Perhaps in George A Romero's 1968 cult "Night of the Living Dead", or an earlier example with Hammer Horror's "The Plague of the Zombies" (1966)? Or just maybe Victor Halperin's 1932 independent offering "White Zombie" is the father of them all? And though it doesn't contain the romanticism of vampire lore, or the fascination of extra terrestrial beings regarding this earth with envious eyes, tales of the walking dead have kept theatre and television audiences entertained for over forty years. Even the gaming market has shared its own slice of terror with Capcom's survival series "Resident Evil". And comics have led to AMC's horror drama "The Walking Dead", developed by Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption", "The Green Mile")

If it is at all possible to forget Steve Miner's creatures in the 2008 reimagining of Romero's "Day of the Dead" (they can defy gravity - really?), there are two types of undead: "Generic Zombie", those that you can quite simply walk past (unless you are desperately out-numbered, as does happen from time to time); and "Fast Zombie", those whose speed brings an extra dimension to the fear factor, making it almost an impossibility to escape. The latter is where Marc Forster's feature film "World War Z" focuses...

Ironically, though based on the novel by horror author Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks), the film adaptation chooses to speed up its zombies intentionally, and there is much difference from the printed version. "World War Z" is, however, one of the most ambitious zombie thrillers of all time, focusing on a worldwide epidemic with the best use of news reporting, CGI and regular action sequences. The confusion and panic of zombies in Philadelphia, for instance, really impresses as Former UN worker Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), wife Karin (Mireille Enos) and their two daughters, Rachel (Abigail Hargrove) and Constance (Sterling Jerins) attempt to escape the chaos. Though they eventually seek refuge on a U.S. Navy vessel, Gerry is forced to return to active duty and help locate the origins of the virus.

During the course of 116 minutes approx., we are taken from Philadelphia and the coast off the New York City coast to a military base in South Korea, the walled city of Jerusalem, and finally a research facility in Cardiff, Wales. It is during the Jerusalem scenes that memories of Romero's "Land of the Dead" (2005) are resurrected, the defences of a protected city breached and finally overrun by zombies. It is indeed a chilling moment as we quickly learn that, no matter the precautions taken, no where is exactly a safe harbour against the flood of walking dead intent on attacking the living.

What I do admire about this take on the genre is that, instead of just being flesh-eaters, these zombies attack to infect, quickly moving on to their next victim. There is much about "28 Weeks Later" present too, a 2007 post-apocalyptic horror directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo that chronicled the outbreak of the highly contagious Rage Virus. In both, the infected move rapidly, as they also did in Zack Snyder's 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead". But what "World War Z" manages to serve up in addition is the extreme case of a world at war with its own, those who were unfortunate enough to be attacked, now single-minded in intent. The twist, however, as we learn later in the film, is that not everyone is at the mercy of the zombies - and not because they possess any special skill or fighting ability... We are safely in scientific territory now, and it is Gerry who must somehow find an answer to eradicate or slow the tide of the growing threat that is engulfing the world's population.

Though the majority of the cast is unknown to me, I was pleasantly surprised to see Scottish-born Peter Capaldi in the role of a World Health Organization (WHO) doctor. Fans of the popular BBC television series "Doctor Who" will understand the irony of the role he plays in this horror feature. Another welcome appearance comes in the form of Israeli soldier "Segen" (played by Israeli actress Daniella Kertesz), who remains with Gerry after his flight from the overrun Jerusalem. During one scene she is bitten and, in an attempt to prevent her from turning, the UN employee amputates her hand.

The scenes in which an airliner is overwhelmed by zombies really does everything to amplify the feelings of tension and desperate claustrophobia as you realise there is no place to escape. This is brief but much better handled than in the 2007 film "Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane". As more of the passengers are attacked, becoming infected, we are left wondering just how Gerry and Segan will survive this nightmare...

Being a zombie genre fan, this is undoubtedly now one of my favourites, alongside George Romero's "Day of the Dead" (1985). It is also nice to see a zombie feature with such large-scale storytelling. Copying the success of "The Walking Dead" in cinematic form is not an easy feat, but director Forster manages it with unforgiving expertise, as his undead go on the rampage in every corner of planet Earth.


Purchase World War Z from the Starfoyer Enterprise Store:
DVD Blu-ray - Running time: 114 minutes

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In The Flesh: Episode 3 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


"There is no denying that In The Flesh is the kind of television drama needed."

Set in the fictional English village of Roarton, the final part was all about departure (as Amy Dyer - portrayed by Emily Bevan - said an emotional farewell), revenge (Bill Macey's execution at the hands of Ken Burton), and a family reunited (this has always been the heart of the tale). In other ways, Part Three felt rushed...

It was always going to be interesting, seeing just how this tale of Partially Deceased Syndrome (PDS) sufferers being returned to the community would work out, and on the whole writer Dominic Mitchell has worked a miracle; In The Flesh is perfect original entertainment, offering more than just a zombie rising and scenes of gore as they eat their way through the residents of Roarton. Instead, the zombies are not traditional zombies at all but victims of PDS, which caused them to rise from their graves and, yes, eat the residents of Roarton. But we see this purely as flashbacks.

The tale handed to us as a slice of BBC Three entertainment focuses on rehabilitation as "Rotters" are treated, before being permitted to see their friends and families. Reintegration. This, in itself, is dangerous - members of the HVF (Human Volunteer Force) are on the look out for any "Rotter" and will likely shoot to kill, which is precisely what happened to Ken's wife in one disturbing consequence.

Ricky Tomlinson as Ken Burton

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Without going into too much past detail (see reviews for In The Flesh), it was clear from day one that 18-year-old Kieren Walker's relationship with his parents and sister Jem was always going to be resolved in a positive way - it would be heartbreaking not to; Jemima Walker (played by the talented Harriet Cains) had shown hostility toward her brother from the moment he first returned and yet... she was far from being a cold-hearted participator of the HVF, nor did she harbour the same feelings of disgust that someone like HVF leader Bill displayed - this was apparent many times, including her reaction to the killing of Ken Burton's PDS suffering wife at the conclusion of the opening episode. It is therefore heartfelt, during a flashback, that we discover Jem's reluctance to destroy her own brother during a moment in his untreated state, following the rising.

Kieren's parents, too (portrayed by Marie Critchley and Steve Cooper) had to finally face the reality of their new life - the latter, Steve (who had discovered his son's body following the suicide that would eventually lead to Kieren's PDS condition), had suppressed so much emotion that he was finally able to let rip. This was encouraged by Kieren, as father and son were finally able to engage in a way not seen since Kieren's rising. Add to that the beautiful scene between mother and son, as Sue exchanges such a perfect moment of comfort in the cave where Kieren had originally died, "This time, you live, you don’t leave, you stay" in response to her son's loss...

...and this is where the story regained its cruel footing - the murder of PDS sufferer Rick Macey (David Walmsley), at the hands of his own father! As with Ken Burton's wife, this was a tragic set of events as Bill's twisted sense of morality finally urged him to take action and destroy the doppelganger that had dared to live in his home, taking the place of his deceased son. This, of course, was followed by the equally shock shooting of Bill, as Ken (whose presence in Part Two had been sadly lacking) finally sought the justice he felt was deserved. Brutal, and perhaps a little empty with its execution (pun intended); perhaps a scene depicting Ken's arrest would have balanced out the story, demonstrating that a "Rotter" is not protected by law - hence Bill's heartless actions receiving no legal comeuppance...

Kieren's old hunting partner Amy didn't have too much to sink her teeth in to with the final episode, instead choosing to leave Roarton. However, once more this scene was touched with genuine passion as both Bevan and Luke Newberry said their farewells. Seeing Luke confronting his own demons, facing his nightmares head on by visiting the parents of one of his victims also demonstrated the power of the script writing.

Perhaps three parts were never quite enough, as there was so much more that should have been developed further. However, that said, there is no denying that In The Flesh is the kind of television drama needed. Indeed, writer Mitchell must be congratulated on his vision - a debut in more ways than one...

Thank goodness for ‘Northern Voices’, the BBC Writersroom scheme that gave us, the viewers, an opportunity to enjoy the skills of a very talented man. And, equally, a very talented team that brought his world to life.

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In The Flesh: Episode 1 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


"In The Flesh is a human story, looking at tragedy, guilt, acceptance, and both justice and injustice..."

Imagine, a world of zombies, the kind of soulless creatures that rise from their graves to devour human flesh, aimlessly stalking the neighborhood, a ravage hunger and a violent nature for killing. There would be a fight for survival, as those who lived fought the dead, destroying these ghouls in the most traditional of methods - the head! But what if... the state of a zombie could be conditioned with medication, and the deceased returned to society?

In Dominic Mitchell's well-crafted drama for BBC3 we are introduced to a world proceeding a zombie apocalypse; those who were once monsters undergo treatment and rehabilitation, before being released back into the community, where they are returned to families and friends. How will people respond? The unease of knowing what the zombie - now officially recognised as a sufferer of PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) - has done in the time of its untreated state would always sit in the back of anyone's mind.

Eighteen-year-old Kieren Walker (played by Luke Newberry) is one such person. We are introduced to him at a Partially Deceased Treatment Centre in Norfolk. This is the place where he has been prepared for his new life in the remote Northern village of of Roarton, where he lived before his death. Adjustment is key, a chance to exist again. That is, unless the Human Volunteer Force (HVF), a vigilante group, has other ideas...

Sisterly love, Cains as Jem

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His sister Jem Walker (excellently portrayed by Harriet Cains), who has been a member of the HVF since the rising, clearly has mixed feelings toward her brother; however it is pleasing to see that her loyalty to the family outweighed any existing apprehensions.

Three-part drama In The Flesh is a human tale, looking at tragedy, guilt, acceptance, and both justice and injustice; a cleansing, the need for some to hunt down and destroy those who had died only to rise again (those who had murdered family, friends and neighbours in the process), and the existence of informers within the village, had my mind visualising the persecution of the Jewish community during the Second World War under German occupation; how people would be dragged out of their hiding places into the street, and shot in front of neighbours and loved ones, or forced to leave due to the constant fear of being caught, always looking over your shoulder, through gaps in curtains, questioning who to trust... It is an uneasy reminder that, given extraordinary circumstances, the unthinkable is possible.

Even the very idea of a PDS sufferer being released back into their old lives, once more interacting with friends and family, medication keeping their condition at bay, reminded this reviewer of someone recently out of a psychiatric hospital, now medicated but memories of their previous imbalanced actions still present in people's minds. Stigma and discrimination, an uneasy sense of suspicion and fear, the doubt of whether this person might just revert back to how they used to be, especially if they had once been violent and dangerous, as these "Rotters" clearly were... The world that Dominic Mitchell has visualised is more than just a story of survival in a zombie apocalypse - In The Flesh portrays the walking dead as victims that must face anger, suspicion, and guilt.

The cast is nicely gathered, with fine performances by Marie Critchley and Steve Cooper (as Kieran's parents Sue and Steve), Ricky Tomlinson (as Ken Burton), Steve Evets (playing HVF leader Bill Macy), and Kenneth Cranham (as Vicar Oddie - he's all about forgiveness, this one!)

Jonny Campbell directs superbly, clearly loving Mitchell's script as he takes every scene, shining such visual depth and haunting bite that, every step of the way, we are drawn into the drama with a sense of our very own apprehension - we want everything to work out, for the past to be forgiven, and these sufferers to be accepted; but we fear the possible, know that any one of these medicated "Rotters" could be held accountable for their "crimes". Or that, without treatment, they are nothing more than mindless killers...

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In The Flesh - taking a look at the new drama from BBC Three

Article author: Alwyn Ash


The living dead get a new outing, though this time they must be rehabilitated...

We are so used to tales of the dead coming back to life, eating brains or flesh (or Twinkies), depending on their diet. Thanks to George A Romero, Hammer Horror, Dan O'Bannon, Charlie Brooker and many other writers and producers of this genre, the story of the zombie has always been one of Human survival. However, writer Dominic Mitchell has taken the usual elements and turned them upside down, asking just what would happen if, following a zombie apocalypse, the undead were reintegrated back into society.

Known as The Rising, thousands of dead people are re-animated. Initially these walkers are dangerous, though after months of re-habilitation and medication are returned home where they attempt to live a normal life. The drama focuses on eighteen-year-old Kieren Walker (played by Luke Newberry), a rehabilitated zombie who faces hostility from the Human Volunteer Force, a group of vigilantes who are apposed to this program of reintegration - after all, weren't these zombies once savage killers? Told over three sixty-minute episodes, it is an interesting concept that all zombies are sufferers of PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome). Add to the mix flashbacks of their past life as killers and you have an emotional drama unfolding...

With the popularity of AMC's The Walking Dead, it was inevitable that a British network would choose to take on its very own tale. "Acceptance and tolerance" is the initial theme here, alongside readjustment, guilt (crimes committed during an untreated state of being) and segregation.

Horror fans will not be disappointed with this drama which, though approaching the genre from a different angle, still contains enough blood and gore to satisfy. That said, there is heart in this story, as creator Mitchell explains, "It’s about redemption, forgiveness and battling against prejudices, and that prejudices can cause chaos if there is no forgiveness - that causes chaos to you and the community.

"When I first came up with the idea, I was always ‘what would really happen in a zombie apocalypse?’ Not the movie version, but the real version. And in the real version, in my head, the scientists would always be trying to find a cure, or find some way to manage the undead. I want it to be for a really wide audience and to talk about real issues, real family issues, real domestic issues, and we play with the zombie methodology. We do have a few scenes of real great zombie genre stuff, but then you have a scene where it’s really domestic and they’re sitting around the table just trying to be a family again, and that’s what I really wanted it to do. So, your Grandma can watch it, hopefully, and really enjoy it, and it can speak to her as well as speak to the teenage zombie horror fan."

Though it is sad to see the end of such shows as Merlin (starring Colin Morgan in the lead role), there is plenty of room for new original British drama such as The Paradise, Ripper Street, Atlantis, and Call The Midwife, alongside regular programs like Doctor Who.

It is always a breath of fresh air to see new writers, too, being given an opportunity to showcase their talent - Dominic Mitchell had joined a BBC Writersroom scheme to receive training and script development, from which came In The Flesh.

Facing stigma in the real world is one of the greatest battles that a single person can face, whether it be racism or mental illness, and focusing on this area within the community is cleverly conceived. Speaking of her own part as young Amy Dyer, actress Emily Bevan says, "It's such a beautiful script, I think Dominic is so clever and as soon as I read it I had a very strong sense of her and her character, and I think I connected with it in a way because she's quite loveable because she's quite lonely, she doesn't have anyone in the world. She’s living all alone in this community, where zombies are really hated, and killed if they're found out. So, if she can't make friends with people, she's living in a very isolated way..."

The first episode will broadcast on Sunday 17th March 2013, BBC Three.

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Cockneys vs. Zombies (2012) - FilmReview

Artile author: Alwyn Ash


Doctor Who fans will appreciate the connection between Planet of the Dead and Cockneys...

Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Zombieland (2009) are the two lead films that I would say had managed to take the zombie franchise and really do something new with it, make us laugh and show that there is still plenty of life in these kind of movies if they are approached correctly. This is exactly where 2012 hit Cockneys vs. Zombies fits in, a tale of inexperienced bank robbers who are caught in the middle of a zombie holocaust in London.

Of course we are on the side of these criminals from the start, as their schemes are put into action to prevent a retirement home from being demolished by developers. Sweet. With a cast including Michelle Ryan, Honor Blackman, Harry Treadaway, Richard Briers, and Alan Ford, there is much to admire about this outing for the flesh-eating walkers.

And I might as well focus on Ryan's performance first: what a treat to see this young talented actress in something that deserves her presence, as Katy, one of the robbers and a character who will have you smiling. Not only is she a tough act, but Doctor Who fans will appreciate the connection between Planet of the Dead and Cockneys... Not only is she clad in black gear, again, but watch out for a double-decker London bus! You will also be interested to know that the screenplay is written by James Moran and Lucas Roche - Moran wrote the 2008 Doctor Who story The Fires of Pompeii and contributed as writer to other shows including Primeval and Torchwood. He will also be linked to next year's Silent Night of the Living Dead feature starring horror legend Tom Savini.

For me, seeing a gang of pensioners holding off against a horde of zombies is worthy alone of the comedy tag - even more so when you see just what they are capable of when faced with almost impossible odds, led by Ford's Ray Maguire (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch).

One reviewer had said "Cockneys vs Zombies won’t win prizes for originality. It’s very nearly a remake of Shaun Of The Dead", however I disagree - yes, there are similarities but where in Shaun did we see OAPs battling it out with zombies using bad language and a holdall of guns? German director Matthias Hoene manages to balance out both horror and comedy to full affect, giving us a bunch of people who, in the ordinary world, have never amounted to much and yet brave an outbreak...

The zombies are played straight, which allows the human characters to achieve their mishaps with even greater impact and the comic timing is set just perfectly in a script that simply shouldn't have worked at all. The very title "Cockneys vs. Zombies" makes you think of a low-budget affair, something that a group of college students might have whipped up in their spare time. And yet, this is one film that shoots a spectacular goal. Talking of which, even in death there is rivalry between football fans - as two gangs of zombies face up!

Subtlety is certainly missing from this feature, and there is enough gore to shock those who are not used to zombie flicks. For me personally, actor Briers (yes, another Doctor Who connection - 1987's Paradise Towers) is fabulous, as he tries to out-walk zombies using his Zimmer frame, and later when he straps an Uzi to the Zimmer and joins in with the battle against the brainless walking dead...

If you are looking for something to join your Shaun and Zombieland movie collection then Cockneys is the perfect treat.

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