Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Girl with All the Gifts’

Written by Scott Edwards

​Friendships are something that can take a lifetime to perfect. For some people, it is something that never really comes easy to them, but others have the gift of woo and are able to make something out of nothing in a matter of seconds. Maintaining a heathy friendship can be the hardest thing to do since life can get in the way of even saying hi once in a while. But once you are able to figure out how to keep a good friendship, it can last a lifetime and even if you don’t have a ton of friends, the closest relationships are what can keep you going.

Hearing the soldiers getting everyone ready for class, Melanie gets into her restraints and is happy to see them. Even with her gift of gab, the soldiers know what she is and will not give into becoming her friend. Arriving in the classroom with several other kids around the same age, Melanie’s teacher Helen Justineau comes in and delivers her next lesson. Asking questions and learning about the history of people, this is the highlight of Melanie’s day. But when the classes end, she is put back into her cell and waits to have only one more person talk to her, Dr. Caldwell, who asks questions that do not have a correct answer.

Getting a chance to write a story in class, Melanie is the only student that is willing to share what she has written. Telling a story that pulls at the heartstrings of Ms. Justineau, Melanie gets the special treat of a human touch that no one else has ever received. Seeing that Justineau is losing focus of what the children in front of her really are, Sargent Parks runs in and reminds her. Putting his exposed arm next to the face of one of the children, the well-behaved child snaps his jaws and the fierceness of the world that they are living in comes to light. Seeing the hunger in the faces of all of the children of the classroom, the real world is much different than it used to be as the Hungries have taken over.

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​Melanie does not like what she is but has a little bit of control over herself and that has been noticed by Dr. Caldwell as she is ready to perform her next round of tests. Having Melanie delivered to her operating room, Dr. Caldwell is ready to put an end to the infection that has killed so much of the world’s population. Seeing the intentions of the doctor, Justineau puts her foot down and will not allow the little girl to be hurt, much less killed. But the doctor must work quickly to get Justineau under control, since time is running short for Caldwell to do her business as the Hungries outside are making their push into the compound. 
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As the gates fall, a small group of survivors are able to escape their fate of being eaten alive by the former humans. Dr. Caldwell, Sargent Parks, Justineau and Melanie make their way towards freedom and try to get word to the main base about what has happened. Being out of radio range however, the group needs to make their way closer, but that will mean getting through Hungry populated areas. With their scent masking gel, the group is able to move silently through the streets and find a safe place to hold up, but when Melanie needs to be fed, questions are raised as to why she has not been put down like the others. Knowing that there is something very special about this girl, Dr. Caldwell does not want to risk losing her, but she may not have a choice as things outside of the compound are looking much bleaker for the human race than she ever expected.

Going into this movie, I did not expect it to be a zombie movie and thank goodness, because it was a happy surprise. As the story really started to move along, there are more questions than answers provided and while that can upset a lot of people, something about the story seemed to make that all right. I will admit that there are plenty of plot holes, but overall, I see where the story was going, and I like that it took its own turn with a fungus-based zombie virus to eradicate the world. Just that little difference gave this movie its own legs to stand on and the character of Melanie was just fantastic throughout. With a new spin on a zombie virus, a Hannibal Lecter mask, struggle for power, a way to save the world and plenty of head shots, The Girl with All the Gifts may not be for the hardcore zombie fans, but it will deliver a story that spirals downwards as the world is surely coming to an end. Stay Scared.

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