Film review: World War Z

World War Z is a twist on the classic zombie formula, writes Christine Powley.

World War Z
Director:
Marc Forster
Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Eros, Fana Mokoena, Matthew Fox, David Morse, Daniella Kertesz, Peter Capaldi
Rating: (M)
3 stars (out of 5)


Any regular moviegoer soon works out that all zombie movies are pretty much the same: one big chase sequence. World War Z (Hoyts and Rialto), however, has two points of difference. 

Instead of the usual virtual unknowns, Brad Pitt is dirtying his hands in his first action franchise and, instead of always running from the undead, he is searching for the source of the original infection, so is constantly entering the danger zone.

In all, Pitt enters three different infection zones and each time he arrives with less and less support. Pitt's character, Gerry Lane, is a former United Nations field worker, which explains his ability to cope in the most hostile conditions.

Apparently Gerry is the United Nation's ''go-to guy'', but he is burnt out and is spending time with his family.

Stuck in a routine traffic jam which turns into a zombie attack, Gerry leaps into action and uses his UN connections to get his family to safety.

However, to keep them safe he must accompany a young scientist searching for ''patient zero'' ... let the zombie hunt begin.

Best thing: There are some very black vignettes in this, which show that someone knows something about how sick and twisted battle zones can be.

Worst thing: Gerry, the seasoned field operative with the uncanny ability to always land on his feet, does not really gel with Pitt's California stoner persona.

See it with: A zombie connoisseur.

 

 

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