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Overall Rating : 4.5/10
Directed By : Ellory Elkayem
Aimee-Lynn Chadwick (A Cinderella Story)
Cory Hardrict (Return of the Living Dead 5 - Rave to the Grave)
John Keefe (Return of the Living Dead 5 - Rave to the Grave)
Jana Kramer (Blue Demon)
Peter Coyote (Deadwood (TV) )
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Apr.27, 2006
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| PLOT A group of teenagers who, in an attempt to rescue their friend from an evil corporation, end up releasing a horde of blood thirsty zombies. |
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| THE REVIEW RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD : NECROPOLIS centers on a corporation named Hybra Tech. Hybra Tech is a weird company, as they manufacture anything from frozen food and many other fine retail products to consumers. oh yeah and they also manage toxic waste and control the population of zombies and prevent future outbreaks of them...toting something like, "we haven't had a zombie outbreak in over a decade". Well it seems that beneath it all, Hybra Tech isn't the happy company it is advertised to be, in fact they are hiding a deep and dark secret. In their lab, Hybra Tech is using the living as human guinea pigs to test a chemical that can re-animate the dead, even transforming some of the humans into robotic-like zombies to be used as "super soldiers". All of this secret mischief remains under wraps, that is until a local teen in injured during a dirk bike stunt while riding with friends, in which he is later sent to the community hospital. All of his friends are worried and one of them, Julian goes to check on him and they immediately notify him of his friend Zeke's death, Not sure what to make of the news, Julian things that something is up, well when another friend Katie, whom just so happens to work at Hybra Tech sees them bringing Zeke in on the monitor, it puts all of the teens into panic. Without a minute to guess, the teens decide that they need to do something about it, they pack up an artillery of choice weapons and head on their crusade. Before we know it the teens are against a horde of brain eating zombies that won't seem to die of, and even Julian's uncle, who turns out to be the evil mind behind the operation. NECROPOLIS serves as the 4th installment into the RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD SERIES and was released simultaneously on The Sci-Fi Channel with it's 5, entitled RAVE TO THE GRAVE. I have yet to see the 5th sequel, but in a weird movie, they seemed to have cast the same people for both films, with each film having a different plot....I still never understood why though.... I have yet to see it as I said, but can't imagine it being any better than NECROPOLIS, don't get me wrong NECROPOLIS is enjoyable in a way, but I don't see any further sequel improving. I have seen a ton of negative things said about NECROPOLIS, but I don't see it as that bad of a film actually, although still not good, but definitely not a waste of time. It has a fun teenage vigilante story.... a bunch of everyday teens turn into zombie ass kickers in a matter of minutes...although not possible in the real world it was fun to see it in this film, that's what movies are all about anyway, right? Just like I said "everyday teens" NECROPOLIS is accompanied by an everyday story and pace at first but by mid mark in the movie is when it heats up, with fast zombie action with some above average special effects.... but patience is definitely needed with this one. The acting is cheesy all around for NECROPOLIS. The veteran here is actor Peter Coyote as the mad scientist/uncle. Through the entire film Coyote wears this evil smile and it looks absolutely ridiculous, the smile is on too tight almost as if he is trying too hard to look sinister, and that annoyed me. Most of all of the other actors featured here, with all do respect to them, do not leave the type of impression on you that would cause you to remember their respected characters. I do in fact remember Aimee-Lynn Chadwick's character of Becky though and would have hoped to have seen a more detailed character developed for her, as Miss Chadwick is a definite cutie! Even though I am sick and tired of zombie films and a new one seems to come out daily, and my rating is kind of low here, I am not saying a do not like it. Maybe had this not been released right in the middle of a zombie craze, a lot of more fans would be accepting to this film. I took off points for the story's unoriginal plot, I could help but think about the RESIDENT EVIL MOVIES while watching, as Hybra TECH closely reminded me of Umbrella Corp from that series. But in the end I agree with what many of my fellow reviewers have said about this film, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD : NECROPOLIS is one of the better films that The Sci-Fi Channel has produced, despite the abundance of zombie flicks theses days. |
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| GORE
METER 5.5/10 I have to admit that some of the gore and FX are damn good in NECROPOLIS. One shot to the head will leave brain matter everywhere! |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.0/10 This had a decent score to it, I really dug the opening theme that played as it definitely set a dark mood, but there is an imbalance in the score as it does from dark to light tones. Also featured is the song "I Stand Alone" by Godsmack. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM This film's main fault is it's originality. Also, like I said it is not the best, nor will it ever be the best zombie film, but a good way to pass an hour and a half.....that's if you can stomach yet ANOTHER movie about the undead... |
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