[Review] Army Of The Dead(2021) {7/10}

Directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shay Hatten and Joby Harold, the film features an ensemble cast consisting of Dave Bautista (Scott Ward), Ella Purnell (Kate Ward), Omari Hardwick (Vanderohe), Ana de la Reguera (Maria Cruz), Theo Rossi (Burt Cummings), Matthias Schweighöfer (Ludwig Dieter), Nora Arnezeder (Lily), Hiroyuki Sanada (Bly Tanaka), Tig Notaro (Marianne Peters), Raúl Castillo (Mikey Guzman), Huma Qureshi (Geeta), and Garret Dillahunt (Martin).

The plot follows a group of mercenaries taking the ultimate gamble by venturing into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist ever after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas.

Zack Snyder did it again. The movie is elevated by its lovable, diverse characters, led by the always charismatic Dave Bautista. Scott’s crew and their individual personalities make for some intriguing team dynamics. Marianne Peters (Tig Notaro) and Dieter (Matthias Schweighofer) provide comedic relief, while Lilly The Coyote (Nora Arnezedar) and Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick) bring in the aggression expected from trained soldiers. But the estranged father-daughter relationship between Scott and Kate is the film’s emotional anchor amidst all the blood, gore, and general mayhem. Huma Qureshi plays a crucial role as Geeta. Snyder takes an exciting approach to his storytelling and manages to make his exposition engaging. Even the opening credits add to the story (which is one of his best openings). The title itself is a metaphor which tells us that the movie is not about the zombies but about Scott's team as they are trapped inside a time-loop (Fighting and Dying, Fighting and Dying). There are a lot of evidences of time-loop provided throughout the movie. The film also has an easter egg of Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead which can be seen on Peter's phone. With a thrilling, bloody and gory ride from the beginning to the end, Zack Snyder redefined the Zombie genre with Army Of The Dead but leaves us wondering about a lot of things...like...What those UFOs were doing above Area 51? Where the Robot Zombies came from? Are the aliens involved in the whole thing? What's happening with the time-loop? In the end, Army Of The Dead serves as a perfect launchpad for a giant universe. It has everything that a zombie fan could have asked for and more. The movie reveals a good heart, valuing family over the stolen millions.

Army Of The Dead is now available on Netflix.