Re-Kill doesn't just employ average shaky cam, this is the shakiest cam that ever shakes. Being found footage doesn't exemplified the utter chaotic scenes, especially when the action starts and the editing shifts into drunken state. It's a shame since the movie has a couple of unique renditions of zombie genre that are funny in its satirical overblown tone.
Story mainly follows the squad of soldiers investigating new threat of Re-Ans (its witty attempt to not use the Z-word). The squad brings cameraman to capture the mission in episodic format, thus the mockumentary style. It also brings a few nifty humors with faux commercials and silly products in the interval of each Re-Kill episode. The social commentary about consumerism is blatantly crude, and it's by far the best aspect of the movie.
Some of these mock shows are excessively wild, but seeing how many shocking reality shows already on TV, it's ironically plausible that a channel might exploit zombie apocalypse. The action part could be decent as well. The cast of Roger Cross and Scott Adkins is fitting for B-movie gorefest.
To their credit, it's an above average in term of acting, and the plot can be immersive with its first person perspective. It already has a justification to use monologues in supposed interviews as well as the squad bantering masked as behind-the-scene. It's a surprisingly deeper premise than ordinary zombie outbreak. The clever outlandish tidbits are very enjoyable and strangely don't disrupt the pace too much.
However, the camera is where everything falls apart. It trembles frantically even in simple conversations. When the action hits, it turns into a mess of unfocused scenes, flailing random shots and choppy editing every half a second. This may just be random shots of walls or floor, or worse, the second coming of Aliens vs Predator : Requiem.
I've seen many found footage movies, it's understandable to have some jittery cam, almost expected in a dysfunctional way, but Re-Kill is utterly horrible and gave me actual headache. Re-Kill expects audience to tolerate its shoddy camera work, it's honestly almost unbearable to watch at some points and might very well ruin the movie.
Re-Kill
2015
Action / Horror
Re-Kill
2015
Action / Horror
Keywords: zombieconspiracyzombie apocalypse
Plot summary
It's been 5 years since the outbreak that wiped out 85% of the world's population, but the war between Re-Animates (Re-Ans) and Humans wages on. Most of the major cities are still uninhabitable. Within the few surviving cities, the Re-Ans have been segregated into "zones" and are policed by the R-Division of the QUASI S.W.A.T. Unit who hunt to re-kill the Re-Ans in the hope of quelling a second outbreak.
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Zombie apocalypse repackaged into reality show, but unfortunately also with overdose of shaky cam.
Shake cam overkill
How to ruin a movie. Have a nice enjoyable spin on an abused genre such as zombies. Have a nice cast of actors. Have a good doze of violence and gore. Have good sound and camera positioning / scenes.. And then COMPLETELY RUIN IT WITH AN OVERKILL AND OVERDO OF SHAKE CAM / CAMERA MOTION!
What a waste of resources and potential. I physically could not sit through this movie because i got a headache and motion sickness because someone thought it was a good idea to ruin a perfectly decent movie with an over-usage of shake cam.
This is not a debate about love or hate about camera motion. This is about the notion that there now is a whole ARMY of simpletons out there that think it is good viewing to overkill on camera motion.
Camera motion when done the right way (not to much degree of motion and not to much zoomed in) is actually very enjoyable and can add tense, action etc to scene.
Shamefully in this movie it completely ruined what could have been a solid good movie.
There isn't much Scott Adkins, but there is a TON of bullets, blood, gore and zombies!
"Re-Kill" is an action-horror found-footage film that takes place 5 years after "the outbreak", aka the zombie apocalypse. I am a big fan of martial artist Scott Adkins, and had read about this back in 2010 when it was being filmed (or about to go into production). 5 years later, it's finally available. Is it worth the wait and price of admission?? Well, that depends on why you are watching
"Re-Kill" plays like an R-rated version of the TV show "COPS", following an elite squad of QUASI SWAT soldiers in a contaminated zone, fighting off seemingly endless hoards of zombies aka "ReAns" (short for Reanimated). The opening of the film is exciting, FULL of blood, bullets and gore. Since it plays like a TV episode, every 15 or so minutes commercials come on, a la "Starship Troopers" (still one of the best science fiction-horror-action films to date in my opinion),which are amusing and later in the film break up the bleak tone. It also peppers in personal interviews of our squads members throughout the movie, helping you (somewhat) get to know the guys who are doing all the shooting- and there is a LOT of shooting.
The film, shot in Bulgaria, has a generic but suitable look, fitting for a zombie apocalypse. After the first act (which has outdoor battles during the day),the film stays almost entirely gray, taking place in either the dark of night, in old run down buildings, underground corridors etc. Another issue is that everyone in the squad is wearing the same black SWAT uniform and helmet, so it's very hard to tell who is who, especially during the action sequences. There is a LOT of action in "Re-Kill", some of which is rather cool (especially in the big opening battle) but much of it is lost due to the shaky cam that plagues so many found-footage films. That being said, when it's not a "shaky cam" moment the movie looks good. There is a ton of action throughout the film- there is no shortage of bullets, blood or zombies (which are runners like in "28 Days Later", one of my favorite modern zombie films). I would love to know how many rounds of ammunition were used in the making of the film, it's probably in the tens of thousands.
The acting is adequate, but there isn't much for them to do besides fire their guns at the endless onslaught of zombies. Veteran B-movie actor Bruce Payne ("Passenger 57", "Highlander Endgame") is almost wasted (because there really isn't much for him to do) although he gives arguably the most memorable performance in the film as the religious zealot of the squad. Martial arts master Scott Adkins ("Undisputed" 2&3, "Ninja" 1&2) is the alpha male in the squad, and is totally wasted in the sense that he doesn't display a single punch, kick or flip- he just mows down hoards of charging zombies with his machine gun. I think its important to note that both of the aforementioned actors are supporting cast. The lead of the picture is the Sarge, chameleon actor Roger R. Cross (who has over 100 credits on IMDb),as the somber squad leader.
Recommended to fans of the genre, "Re-Kill" is a fast paced action-horror found-footage film, that focuses on action over scares. There is no shortage of carnage from start to finish. If you play video games, specifically first-person shooters, or enjoy the occasional found footage film (and not seeking an impressive martial arts display from Adkins or an intense monologue from Payne) give this movie a shot. It's a shame that this didn't release back in 2011 before the market was flooded with so many crappy low budget zombie movies. It's easily one of the better direct to video zombie movies to come out since the success of "The Walking Dead". It's a fun action packed, bullet and blood soaked, zombie filled 87 minutes and is a fairly fresh take on the zombie apocalypse.
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