World War Z (2013) by The Critical Movie Critics

Movie Review: World War Z (2013)


World War Z (2013) by The Critical Movie Critics

Zombies are coming. Fast.

A plague has precipitously spread across the globe. Philadelphia, Newark, Washington: Each city’s populace victim to the bites of ravenous zombies. U.N. reports indicate mayhem has also reached other cities and continents; the blight is spreading quickly. So who would you want at the helm, desperately searching for a healing agent? Well it’s obvious, Brad Pitt.

World War Z takes a calculable, routine zombie script (take your pick from any of the “Dead” movies) and molds it with a thriller where a protagonist has to laboriously unearth a fixture to a global catastrophe (think “Contagion”) to create a must-see summer blockbuster. There’s so much noise; so many on-edge, pressure-packed moments, viewers are left no choice but to search theater doors for a lingering zombie. Director Marc Forster brings his viewership right into the mix. In 3D, zombies are falling straight from their body chain-gangs and are headed right for you. Meanwhile, the volume, engaged acting and pleasurable script leaves us wishing the 116-minute runtime didn’t fly by so quickly.

The script, loosely based off of a novel of the same name, centers around rugged former UN employee, Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt, “Killing them Softly”), as he attempts to mingle back into civilian life. Ah, but how plans don’t always work out as planned. Driving through Philadelphia with his wife Karin (Mireille Enos, “Gangster Squad”) and daughters (Abigail Hargrove and Sterling Jerins), uneasiness spreads as a routine traffic slowdown turns into a zombie feeding frenzy. Barely escaping with their lives, the Lanes exit the city in a confiscated RV and roll into Newark, which is dealing with similar circumstances.

Membership has its privileges; Gerry’s former standing with the U.N. allows for a high-priority extraction of him and his family, arranged by the Deputy Secretary General of the U.N., Thierry (Fana Mokoena, “Machine Gun Preacher”). Hundreds of miles off the coast of New York City, a battleship has become the world’s command center, with everyone on board being purely essential personnel. Reluctantly, Gerry takes a mission to accompany virologist Dr. Fassbach (Elyes Gabel, “Welcome to the Punch”) to Camp Humphreys, South Korea to recover a week-old memo that mentioned an encounter with “zombies.”

World War Z (2013) by The Critical Movie Critics

Brad Pitt, the savior?

Even the well-armed military couldn’t hold back the hordes of undead (they’re awfully fast and behave as a single unit) though, so Lane and team high-tail it to Israel as it’s hinted that they may have found an answer there. Will Lane be able to find an antidote to the virus or pathogen that is spreading, as he engages on his global goose-chase? Will he be able to reunite with his family as they’ve been deemed “non-essential” aboard the U.N. ship (because you know it’s all about maintaining the family unit)?

Throughout World War Z, Pitt does not get a chance to exemplify his acting skills, per se, but for an action-packed, pressure-cooker type film, he was the right man for the job. With a look of a brutish savior, he effectively captures the film’s edgy persona. The direction too, is quite noteworthy. There’s not a second that elapses where it seems a scene is misplaced or the actors aren’t fully engaged (a scene aboard a Belarus Airline plane is quite memorable). But the most praise, however, goes to cinematographer Ben Seresin and the visual effects teams, who helped to successfully create the most enticing zombie films in years. Their zombies look frighteningly genuine and the landscape is eerily effective.

This brings about a catharsis of sorts. I, for one, was hoping the zombie apocalypse movie had all but run its course, but World War Z has shown there is still exciting life to breathe into the undead. Oh, and on another note, I’m also okay with Brad Pitt shouldering the load to ensure humanity’s survival.

Critical Movie Critic Rating:
4 Star Rating: Good

4

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The Critical Movie Critics

Dan is an author, film critic and media professional. He is a former staff writer for the N.Y. Daily News, where he served as a film/TV reviewer with a "Top Critic" designation on Rotten Tomatoes. His debut historical fiction novel, "Synod," was published by an independent press in Jan. 2018, receiving praise among indie book reviewers. His research interests include English, military and political history.


'Movie Review: World War Z (2013)' have 16 comments

  1. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 1:22 pm PinchMe

    I thought the movie was a total bore.

  2. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 1:35 pm Never Wayne

    This is the most neutered zombie movie ever made.

  3. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 2:02 pm Kreed

    Zombie horror fans are better off watching a “Walking Dead” episode than WWZ.

  4. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 2:09 pm Marcel

    If you can get past a hero who relies on more good luck than he should to see the goal to the end then I guess you can call it an okay thriller. Me, I couldn’t get past it.

  5. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 2:39 pm FirstLast

    I’m with you that Brad Pitt was a good choice but that’s where my agreement ends. The CGI you laud was most obviously CGI, the frantic mob shots confused more than heightened the anxiety and I’ll add the ending was a total wash out.

    • The Critical Movie Critics

      June 23, 2013 @ 10:15 pm yoorayz

      They could have cast anyone with decent acting skills (like Pitt) in the role. He was chosen because the studio has $200MM invested in this and they needed a big bankable name to get people in the doors..

  6. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 2:56 pm shroff

    This was a movie that cried out for an “R” rating.

  7. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 3:34 pm Guy

    I thought it was a good movie There was enough intensity to keep me zeroed in

  8. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 4:11 pm Quadrilateral

    In a nutshell: 28 Days Later + Contagion – blood – thrills – drama = World War Z

  9. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 5:10 pm DJ Larid

    Read the book instead.

  10. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 6:00 pm tron21net

    Other than a plane scene that was sick, the movie is a nonevent.

  11. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 8:51 pm namePIMP

    Chase lead here, zombie swarm. Chase lead there, zombie swarm. Repeat, go home.

  12. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 23, 2013 @ 11:09 pm Barban

    Fuck it. Good bad don’t matter. Its zombies!!

  13. The Critical Movie Critics

    June 24, 2013 @ 12:24 pm Chapter Seven

    Seems to be a lot of hate for this film because it doesn’t represent a true zombie experience. I for one think keeping much of the violence off camera and the levels of blood splatter down intensified the movie. The brain often dreams up much worse than what the fx/make-up staff can show.

    • The Critical Movie Critics

      June 29, 2013 @ 8:43 pm RyRy

      Limiting the bloodshed is one thing, eliminating it entirely—which is basically what they did here—is another.

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