Customer Reviews

Awaken the Dead

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Not bad, not bad at all...

1) ACTING: For a low budget, no-name indie production, the acting was pretty good. The three main characters seemed very real to me and the script seem to flesh out their characters. There were, of course, the usual hit and misses when it comes to indie productions and quality actors, but nothing that really distracted me from the film.

2) PRODUCTION: The script, I felt, was pretty strong. There were many plot lines going, and luckily for the viewer, they are all wrapped up at the end. A number of scenes were filmed with that grainy texture look which I personally do not care for, but to each his own. There was an original score by an actual band! How unusual for an indie! Normally, we, the viewers get some heavy metal music blaring through certain scenes, and this was a nice change of pace. I did have an issue with the sound. While viewing this movie, I was constantly adjusting the volume up and down. At times, I could hardly hear the actors, and then suddenly ZOMBIE ATTACK! and I was blown out of my chair. The zombie make up and gore was pretty good, but I felt, it could have /should have been more.

3) THE ZOMBIES: Really nothing new brought to the zombie genre here.

4) THE CAUSE: Experimental virus that transforms the living into the living dead.

5) NUDITY: None.


Overall, I feel that this was a pretty good entry for the low budget indie scene. Normally, we get the usual "Zombies attack, the heroes fight to survive, and maybe, it's over." This movie had a lot plot to keep you, the viewer interested in the movie. Is this movie top of the line, top notch zombie fare? No, there are a few problems, but nothing too extreme to take away from the viewer being entertained by this movie. And, it is WAY above the usual low budget indie crap that is normally pushed on us, the zombie genre's biggest fans.


RATING: 3 out of 5

Though I rated this movie with 1 star, it really doesn't deserve this much. The movie is terrible and a complete waste of money. The acting is bad and the film quality is poor (dark), and there is no story line - in three words, "bad, terrible, worthless."

I went into this movie with an open mind....horror's not my gig. But since I loved the sarcasm in Shaun of the Dead.....and I know the writer's got a gift for finding the humor in the horror, I was thrilled that I laughed out loud. Come on, you high brow horror snobs, this is an independent, rough, yes, cliche' on purpose, attempt to revive the genre with humor, and intrigue. What were you expecting Meryl Streep? The fun of the horror flick is the classically flawed acting...this is social, personal, government intrigue taken tongue in cheek. So here's my thought, if you liked Shaun of the Dead, you'll enjoy Awaken the Dead! If you are looking for some glossy studio take on this kitschy genre....move on there's plenty of average stuff out there like that. This movie starts out like a joke on purpose, What do a priest, a prostitute and a Jehovah's witness have in common?.....Watch it to find out...I guarantee you'll laugh and be surprised in the end! I know I did.

If this movie was directed by a high schooler, then great. He's off to a great start. Let's see what happens after the director goes off to film school and learns a craft to go along with this youthful enthusiasm.

However, no one should ever pay money for this. It should not be available to buy.

The script is straight out of a bad 1990s comic-book. The directing is amateurish. The acting is amateurish. Although I will admit Lindsey Morris is hot. Her hips are amazing!) The camera-work is bad and the quality of the recording is barely watchable. It was all a dirty washed-out brown. You couldn't even see everything you were meant to. No, not like Night of the Living Dead. This was bad looking.

I bought the movie from Amazon as a part of the 4 movie Midnight Horror Collection very cheaply. Glad I didn't spend any money specifically on it.

My DVD box said the movie was in color, but mine was the color of of a washed out VHS movie. This is a "Night of the Living Dead"- light. A group of bad actors with a bad script are held up in a secured house while there are zombies and a guy taking notes outside. The zombie make-up ranged from mediocre to rubber mask. The people seemed to know that only head shots killed zombies, although that was something that was just done and not learned. The box hides some of the "mystery" of the plot by describing the girl as an "assassin's daughter." The writer, director, producer, and editor are all the same person, Jeffery McMichael Bookshire. The real mystery of this movie is why Mr. Brookshire didn't star in this film. Do not waste your time or money.

Did ya notice that the reviews are either 1-star or 5-star - almost nothing in between? Curious, isn't it? The 5-star reviews have to be from people connected with the film and who have an interest in it's sales, because no one else would honestly give this amateur effort more that 2 stars, and that many only from those viewers who'd give an amateur film maker credit for the effort. Unless you're like me, and want to experience the full spectrum of zombie movies, don't waste you time on money on this one.

This is an excellent movie with a refreshing story line that comes together very nicely in the end. The characters are original, and the plot is very well thought out. I LOVE zombie movies, and I think that this movie is a great addition to my collection.

Movies are escape, pure and simple. I like the raw energy of low budget indie films and find some interesting venues for creative exploration. This is one of them. I liked the story and the subtext of redemption was a plus. What it lacked in budget it made up in story telling. I recommend it.

Okay people, after reading these reviews in Amazon, I was wondering if I watched the same movie as some of you guys did, the acting was terrible, the zombies were terrible and laughable at, the indoor sences were fuzzy and hard to view the plot just plain stunk to high heaven. In fact the only reason I bought this stupid movie was the reviews that were given in Amazon, and in doing so prompt me to write my own review and warn the people not to purchase this flick at any price, even if you only had to pay the price of shipping it wouldn't be worth it. I've seen alot of zombie movies and like I said you guys either didin't see the same zombie flick as I did or your taste buds in zombie films are really, really bad, so please don't buy this movie......

With many of the big budget studio films repeatedly letting us down when it comes to storylines, characters and originality, it's refreshing to see a film as well told as this one. Set aside the budgetary limitations and pick up this gem. I laughed, I thrilled and I wondered what would happen next. I was thoroughly entertained but the multiple plots and the renegade priest with a dark and deadly past. What a pleasant surprize.






Awaken the Dead