I started watching STATE OF EMERGENCY on Netflix with the usual trepidation one has when starting a low-budget zombie flick, with the usual over-worn tropes and stereotypes. STATE OF EMERGENCY was a pleasant surprise. In fact, it’s now on a very short list of my favorite zombie movies.
Whereas WORLD WAR Z was pure spectacle, STATE OF EMERGENCY uses its small budget creatively to create realism and tension. An explosion at a chemical factory turns people into zombies across an entire county, and the military is flown in from all directions to enforce a quarantine. Four young people are thrown together at an old warehouse and find themselves under siege.
It’s a simple plot, but the filmmakers do a lot with it. The survivors, excellently played by the actors, are continually terrified. Nobody is a superhero, although there are certainly opportunities for heroism. Everything about the film flows naturally. The zombies are produced very well and are scary.
I highly recommend this film for those seeking something new in a familiar package.
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