Film: Doc of the Dead (2014)
Film: Excellent
Transfer: n/a Extras: n/a
Label: n/a
Region: n/a
Released: n/a
Genre: Documentary / Hot Docs 2014
Synopsis: Wry, often extremely funny examination of the everlasting appeal of zombies in pop culture.
Special Features: n/a
Review:
With there being a good five documentaries on George A. Romero’s own zombie films, one would think any filmic treatise dealing with zombies in movies has been beaten to death (answer: a heavy leaning towards yes), so rather than regurgitate the familiar, Alexandre O. Philippe (The People vs. George Lucas, The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus) examines the historical origins of zombies, their cultural impact on various levels of fans, and evolution from a Haitian metaphor for slavery to a mass of fast-moving, brain-munching monsters that attack victims with utter indifference in works like WWZ; basically, if you look like a walking brain-burger, that’s all that’s important to your devourer.
Drawing from a plethora of interview subjects – fans, filmmakers, SFX whizzes, survivalists, graphic novel authors – Philippe also weaves in amusing dramatizations of zombie clichés in film / tv / print / role-playing games, making Doc of the Dead an anthropological pop culture dissection with humour and a little gore. The brisk pacing and layered visuals and dynamic sound mix make this taut production both fun and edifying. Really well done.
© 2014 Mark R. Hasan
External References:
IMDB — Hot Docs 2014 Listing
Vendor Search Links:
Amazon.ca
Category: Blu-ray / DVD Film Review
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