Film | Zombieland

The zombie apocalypse film genre seems to have been beaten to death, but every once in a while something comes along and provides a fresh spin on a tired concept.

Zombieland is one such movie, and while it still retains most of the cliches presented in most zombie films, it's the way it presents it that makes it so new and appealing. It's still about a group of survivors trying to find their place in a zombie-infested world, but emphasis is placed more on the humor rather than the grim, hopeless future.

The movie doesn't provide explanations on what happened or why it happened; rather, we jump right in and follow main character Columbus as he goes on a road trip and meets other survivors, who are all referred to with area names: Tallahasee, Wichita, and Little Rock.

But perhaps the main attraction of Zombieland are the Rules--simple little rules that Columbus follows to the heart to ensure his survival, like "Beware of Bathrooms," "Cardio," and "Don't be a hero." In a manner very similar to The Losers and the TV series Fringe, the Rules are shown in huge 3D letters that appear to be part of the actual scenery, giving Zombieland a unique visual style that's to be commended.

I always like it when a movie or TV show manages to come up with something different and distinctive, and Zombieland succeeds with regards to creativity, aided by a witty script and fine performances by the actors. Highly recommended.