Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Army of the Dead’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Army of the Dead’.

​Whenever anyone settles in to watch a zombie themed horror film, fan of them or not, they have a specific checklist of expectations for the movie in question, in order to properly enjoy it. For instance, this parable about the living dead has to include some quality commentary on our modern world, and it needs to be incredibly gory and tense and well… it is understandable as to why people have those particular expectations. Because movies that feature walking corpses have truly established themselves to be a perfect hybrid of cerebral and splatter-y storytelling, the kind that thrills and captivates and challenges us and this formula is so effective and so impactful, that people really do tend to shun zombie flicks that don’t feature that small but important mental checklist.
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But while it is indeed wonderful to know that the zombie film will do its best to pay tribute to the foundation that George A. Romero put together by way of Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead and on, there is one downside to constantly having the zombie movie be so refined. In that… the genre doesn’t quite indulge itself in fun as often as it used to. Which is a shame since a bevy of zombie themed films have proven to audiences in the past, that fun and humor can be injected into these stories on a moment’s notice. But thankfully, as we continue along in this golden era of the zombie, there are some filmmakers who understand the need to spice up this sub-genre with a touch of humor and fun… as evidenced by Zack Snyder’s latest ghoulish offering, Army of the Dead.

Now in this particular film we are introduced to a man named Scott Ward, whose better days appear to be behind him. For not that long ago, he was a celebrated hero of the zombie wars since he saved a great deal of lives, including the Secretary of Defense, when a zombie outbreak washed over the city of Las Vegas. But now that Sin City is walled off and the combat has come to an end, Scott and his team are all but forgotten, that is until… a former casino magnate, named Tanaka, approaches Scott with quite the incredible offer. One that involves Scott assembling a team of the finest warriors he can find, to enjoy a cut of the $200 million that Tanaka wants them to rescue from his fallen casino before the United States Army nukes this once proud city. Which is, of course, an offer that Scott cannot refuse, motivating him to assemble his team for what should be a simple and straightforward mission. But once Scott and his team step into what is left of America’s Playground… they quickly come to learn that this will be the most difficult mission they’ve ever faced, since a powerful army of the dead stands between them and their goal.

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Which is, quite the juicy plot for certain, one that is so epic in nature that it alone… allows for a sense of fun and adventure to take place. Because in essence, Snyder has given zombie fans everywhere something they’ve craved for years… a spectacle zombiepocaylpse that is set in a major urban center and the fun factor doesn’t end there. Because watching Scott and his team navigate what’s left of one of America’s most famous cities really is quite the sight to behold and it is further enhanced by incredible action sequences and delightfully humors moments and all of these elements simply grab hold of the viewer and never let go and it also doesn’t hurt that Snyder and his team have worked to further enhance the zombie sub-genre by trying to build on Romero’s take on zombie evolution, which he introduced in 2005's Land of the Dead.
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But while those elements alone could have carried this film from beginning to end, there are more reasons to celebrate Snyder’s creation. Because he even found a way to sneak some social commentary into the story as well. Since the quarantine camps surrounding Las Vegas serve as an eerie parallel to the camps that are currently on the border, and the fact that they are filled with people of Latin descent, only adds to the commentary in question and it forces the viewer to ponder upon the point of these camps. Plus, the fall of Las Vegas and its decrepit appearance, serves as a parallel to some of the current views on capitalism right now, since a great deal of people see the old model as decadent, much like the city itself, and it is nice to find that present here… since it gives hardcore zombie fans something to enjoy as well.

However, this film is not without its faults. For its runtime is a little too long and there are spots it could have been trimmed to make the movie feel a little crisper and there is a strange storytelling decision involving zombie biology. But all of that aside, this really is quite the entertaining ride, one that you can easily lose yourself within and one that features some fine performances as well. Since Dave Bautista and his supporting cast captivate us at every single turn and of course, it features plenty of action and splatter and some solid humor to boot. So, if you’re looking for a big budget zombie epic that puts a smile on your face and leaves you content when its sweeping story has come to a close, then swing by Netflix and give Army of the Dead a look. You’ll be glad you did.

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