Rise of the Zombie (2013)

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

'Rise of the Zombie', not to be confused with the 2012 film, 'Rise of the Zombies' starring Danny Trejo, is a film that zombie fans, as well as independent film lovers don't want to miss out on. I like it, maybe I love it. Director Luke Kenny plays Neil Parker, a wildlife photographer who, after deciding to spend a few days in the wilderness to clear his head after a fight with his girlfriend, is bitten or stung while taking photos of insects, small animals, and breathtaking landscape. Over the next few days his world slowly spins out of control; a dark and violent journey into what will soon be the incident that gives birth to the apocalyptic spreading of the zombie virus as we know it. Devaki Singh, writer and also co-director, tells a beautiful, terrifying, and believable story while Luke Kenny, co-director and lead actor sells his role brilliantly. 'Rise of the Zombie' is every bit as much a psychological thriller as it is the gory, body-parts-piling-up, flesh eating zombie horror. 'Rise of the Zombie' is not a blood and gore 'quick fix'. It's a film that doesn't replace quality for cheap thrills. It has a real story, real characters, real drama, and a real delivery that you have to wait for. But even with a slow start to the violent ripping of intestines and chewing-off of faces, that we have all come to expect and love from zombie movies, the wait is as much a part of the experience as the culminating horrific climax. It left me fully satisfied and wanting more. Although India has been in the filmmaking business for just over a hundred years, 'Rise of the Zombie' is the country's first zombie film and it will easily land in my top 20 favorite zombie films list. Even without all the subtitles, it's more than worth the ride to see how the beginning of the zombie apocalypse began in the mind of Devaki Singh. Highlights: The artistic way cinematographer, Murzy Pagdiwala uses the cameras and lighting to capture amazing landscapes, the small village traditions, as well as the violent motions during attacks not complement the story and add depth to Neil's emotional and mental decent, but it shares a piece of Hindu culture most have never experienced. Why Not 10 Stars?: The film is not spoken in English and the subtitles freeze up on about six or seven sentences for the majority of the film. I felt that this caused me to miss some of the storyline that I needed to connect with other characters more deeply.Don't forget: In the last few minutes the title 'Rise of the Zombie' appears on the screen. At the screening I first saw this film at, it was stopped there. After I watched it again I realized that it is not the end of the film and you may think the best part is in the three minutes following.

If you are the kind of person who grew playing video-games sitting your butt on the couch and is a zombie fanatic, then do yourself a favor and do not watch this movie!, this is a film intended for those of us what had a life and love for a well-crafted movie. I identified with Neil Parker right away from the beginning, (memories of myself hitchhiking and finding the most beautiful places, and sitting at the top of the mountains), as Neil said "Cheers Mother nature, the best company". Definitely the poster for this movie is misleading, for everyone who expects zombies ripping the meat out of people, in the first thirty minutes, it won't be happening. We get to know our main character in the proper way, constructed little by little into his passion and solitude and well hidden frustration and disdain for a regular life; if you have seen "Into the Wild" you will understand what I am saying. A guy with the same spirit towards nature, and disregard for comfort and monotony, therefore, Neil has a better life than those who disliked the movie, and without a question this is a film worth for a USA remake, why? That would be your question, and the answer is to promote the original, so it can be appreciated on his cinematic value. Still I doubt that any other actor would be capable of being so likable for this role, I think Timothy Olyphant, would be the right one, because of the physical appearance. Somehow this Indian film gave me the chill I felt watching, "Zombie" in 1980 directed by Lucio Fulci, and since I have seen pretty much everything in the zombie genre, it's hard for me be sitting almost two hours through garbage, This is not the case, and "Rise of the Zombie" is going into the list of movies I would recommend to cinephiles, and other people whose knowledge goes above and beyond. I wonder what Roger Ebert would have said if he had the chance to see this film? The reason some dislike this movie is simple, is like opening a can of food for them, and for some of us is like seeing the ingredients and watching them cook for a great flavor!!!

Much like the status in title, it talks about the origin. And while it talks cliché, it fails to show the source i.e. how did the lead character become a zombie?With terrible cinematography, direction & setup, India's first zombie origin film sucks to depth. The first half is full of simple, no- narrative sequences which evinces the individuality of the lead character. The last twenty minutes actually shows the gore, zombieness and all that's expected in a horror movie; only it doesn't scare a bit.Makeup, effects, music & cast performance is the only laudable thing, but since the foundation itself crooked, they don't matter at all. 2.3 out of 10 for incomparable stupidity & insanity on screen. And the romance just tops it with ridicule.BOTTOM LINE: Not recommended as it will eventually waste time to say what we all perhaps know through our surrounding info flow. Very bad attempt.Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YESProfanity/Vulgarity/Sex/Mouth-Kiss/Smoking: No | Alcohol/Drugs: Mild | Violence: Mild | Gore: Strong

"rise of the zombie" - scarry! crazy ! "bloody entertaining" ! sure shot watch 4 zombie lovers! our very own Indian zombie film thats "bloody" entertaining! ther r several occasions in the flick wen u feel u r seeing national geographic or discovery channel. ther r some rare specie of insect and plants that make the flick appear beautiful! wonderful performance by Luke kenny. brilliant make up nd locations that add perfect value to the story line nd the theme. one of the first zombie films from Indian sub continent nd therefore extra boastful and pridefilled watch! 6 out of 10 stars - jeeturaaj rj - radio mirchi 98.3fm mumbai India