Warm Bodies

Cast of Characters:
R - Nicholas Hoult
Julie Grigio - Teresa Palmer
M/Marcus - Rob Corddry
Perry Kelvin - Dave Franco
Nora - Analeigh Tipton
Kevin - Cory Hardrict
General Grigio - John Malkovich

Director - Jonathan Levine
Screenplay - Jonathan Levine
Based on the novel “Warm Bodies” by Isaac Marion
Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and some language

      

      From 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, today’s critically acclaimed television series The Walking Dead, and of course, the great George A. Romero series, we’ve been given countless number of takes on the zombie genre. Here with Warm Bodies we’re finally treated with a unique take that flips the genre on its head - presenting the story from the zombie’s point of view... but does it work? 

      The story focuses on one zombie in particular named R (Nicholas Hoult). That’s not technically his name, but given that zombie’s have very little to no memory recollection, it’s as he states, “I can’t remember my name, but I think it started with an R”. He’s different from most of the zombies he associates with. He wonders - though narrative voice-over - why he can’t connect with someone just once. How nice it’d be to dream, and that he doesn’t like eating people, but has to in order to survive. R, as do the rest of the zombies, wander aimlessly around a rundown airport. By day, he spends his time with what he considers his best friend named M (Rob Corddry). They mostly stare blankly at each other and at times even have conversations through a series of grunts and moans, although every now and then a word will slowly roll out like “hungry”. By night, R stays in an abandoned airliner out on the runway.

 

      We’re then introduced to the surviving humans living in a fortified city. They’re led by General Grigio (John Malcovich) who fronts the military force that is fighting the zombies, or as they call them - corpses. Grigio, having previously been forced to shoot down his own wife turned zombie, is unapologetic in his quest for taking the zombies out. While sending a group of teenagers on a training exercise - three in particular being Grigio’s daughter Julie (Teresa Palmer), her boyfriend Perry Kelvin (Dave Franco), and her best friend Nora (Analeigh Tipton) - they’re confronted by a herd of zombies while searching for supplies. Perry is attacked and killed by none other than R, and that’s when R stumbles upon Julie. He not only doesn’t attack her, but appears to be smitten by her. He then does something that would be extremely unheard of to the zombie camp - rescues her. At first, Julie is naturally turned off by R (Wouldn’t you?) and doesn’t understand why he just didn’t kill her. Over time though Julie finds herself bonding with him when she realizes he genuinely wants to protect her.

      Zombies, as it turns out though, are the least of the survivors’ worries when R mentions to Julie of Bonies. Bonies, according to R, are zombies that have finally given up hope and are reduced to nothing but bone after tearing away their own flesh. They’re not only after the humans, but the zombies too. They'll eat anything with a heartbeat. Technically, R will too, but, "Hey, at least I'm conflicted about it." as he states. R then faces the challenge, through Julie, of having to convince those in her survivor camp that he’s willing to help them kill the Bonies.

      Having seen a number of zombie movies - some good and some crap - it’s refreshing to see such a unique take on the genre. Here the zombies are no longer stumbling, silent, convenient props amongst the actual characters involved in the movie. Everything is from the point of view of R. Nicholas Hoult gives a strong yet quiet performance as R. He hardly says much through most of the movie other the occasional muttered word to either M or Julie, but he does provide some hilarious voice-over narration. Not only that, he provides some much needed heart to a genre character normally known for being nothing more than a mindless, flesh hungry monster. Teresa Palmer delivers a solid performance as the girl of interest for R, and there is some genuine chemistry between the two leads. Rob Corddry is a bit of a scene stealer in a terrifically funny supporting role, and John Malkovich delivers a surprisingly restrained performance as Julie’s overprotective military father. Granted, the Bonies visually weren’t all that impressive or frightening. They really do nothing more than just run around snarling. That being said, the point of this movie isn’t to be frightening or gruesome or extremely violent. Being a comedy, the point is to be funny and on that note it succeeds.

      Much to the credit of director/screenwriter Jonathan Levine (based on Isaac Marion’s novel) we don’t get too deep, if at all, in the when, where, and how they became zombies. There’s no top-secret government plot or nuclear fallout or the typical backstory that often times accompanies zombie flicks. Obviously, coming from R’s point of view, how’s he gonna remember anyway? While not perfect, this is still a terrific piece of entertainment. Hoult and Palmer are great together, there are plenty of laughs, and like I said before, it’s nice seeing a different take on this popular cult-like genre. I give Warm Bodies an A- (★★★½).