The Bottom Line
Pros
- Smartly written
- Well acted
- Unique universe
- Intense emotion
- Visually striking
Cons
- Needs more action and gore
- Characters could be delineated more clearly
- Some scenes don't flow together well
Description
- Starring Ray Bullock Jr., Emma Choy, Shiv Grewal, Steve Weston, Karen Admiraal, Bahi Ghubril
- Directed by Matthew Hope
- Not Rated
- DVD Release Date: September 23, 2008
Guide Review - 'The Vanguard' DVD Review
Every week, it seems, a dozen zombie movies hit the DVD shelves, most rehashing George Romero's films without the nagging insistence on quality control. The British film The Vanguard, however, is a gem in the tall rough -- in part because it's not really a zombie movie.
The story takes place in an apocalyptic future. A company called the Corporation has taken over from the government and has begun a depopulation program aimed at "undesirables." However, the lethal depopulation drug is sabotaged, turning the people into vicious mutants called Biosyns that roam the countryside.
Max, one of the few remaining humans outside Corporation control, has lived for five years in the wilderness, both fighting and studying the Biosyns. When two soldiers and a scientist who've deserted the Corporation trek through his territory, they bring with them the pursuing Corporation army. Max's world is thrown into turmoil, as he must deal not only with the Biosyns, but also with the soldiers and secrets that arise about his past.
The Vanguard is strikingly original for a low-budget horror movie. Visually, the forest setting, Max's mountain man beard and the Biosyns' ape-like movements help it stand out from the pack of zombie flicks, while the gray British weather, the Eastern-influenced musical score and melancholy voiceovers drive the dark tone. The story's mythology is intricate and socially relevant, although the film feels like the introduction to a larger, more fully developed work.
There are some issues with uneven character development and choppy scene transitions, but the usual complaints about low-budget films -- like acting, direction and makeup -- are not a problem. At times, the pace bogs down, as the brooding tone trumps substantive action, but overall, The Vanguard is smart, fresh and sequel-worthy.
The DVD
No special features.
Movie: B-
DVD: F
