If you're looking for perfect gory, apocalyptic, frightening fun to compliment your Halloween then look no further. I have been championing this to anyone who would listen ever since it first aired last year and if you haven't seen it then I heartily recommend you do so now.
I will avoid a long, detailed review, partly for time and also to avoid too many spoilers for anyone wanting to watch it untainted by knowing too much. What I will say is that it is one of the best written horrors, big or small screen, of the last ten years. Charlie Brooker (of critical journalistic fame) sets his satirical sights on the reality t.v, specifically Big Brother, phenomenon of British culture and how its all turning us into zombies, here literally. In this way the piece employs similar themes and metaphors to the best of early George Romero, and I recall telling Mr B at time of viewing that this is what Diary of the Dead should have been like, given both were tackling the same subject matter.
Originally aired as a mini series across 5 consecutive nights the whole piece will air as a bumper length movie tomorrow and is arguably one of the best you will see, certainly the best choice on free t.v stations. I envy new viewers who will see the piece uninterrupted in this way as I'm sure it will work.
The piece is intelligent, inspiring, witty, surprisingly thought provoking, sometimes challenging and in places jarring and shocking. Despite this there are also oodles of quotable lines and suitably iconic moments, the gore quotient is amply filled alongside some really sick gross out moments but the characters are well rounded (even when not supposed to be, weirdly, see the BB contestants). British viewers will get more from the recognisable nature of this apocalypse but it deserves a wider audience. I don't stick my neck out often but here I suspect everyone will get something from watching this, and I can't heap enough praise. You'll be entertained without being patronised, feel like you're being given a treat if you are a genre fan and/or aware of our cultural obession with fame and if nothing else you'll be scared and go along on a roller coaster zombie-fuelled thrill ride.
***** (5/5)
MM
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