Post by StevePulaski on May 19, 2013 8:32:30 GMT -5
Zombies attack a small house party in Midget Zombie Takeover.
Rating: ★★½
Young twentysomething Amanda (Kristi McKay) deciding to throw a party after her parents depart was quite possibly the worst idea she could have. She invites over several of her friends for a weekend of fun and carelessness, when their party is crashed by none other than midget zombies hellbent on destruction. The gang takes refuge in Amanda's house and simply tries to stakeout for as long as they possibly can under uncertain circumstances.
For this reason alone, Midget Zombie Takeover lives up to its title because it gives the viewer exactly what they want. Shot for $2,000 and not appearing to waste a dime of it, it comes off as a movie or a shot that I, myself, probably would've made with a close friend of mine if I had continued. This provides a close-to-home feel and a simple justification for the reason I enjoyed the camaraderie and silliness of the picture.
This doesn't look like any horror film you're likely to have seen. It's shot under available sound conditions (some of the early party scenes are very difficult to hear) and lighting conditions, and features some amateur acting and special effects. This adds to its credibility and fun but also orchestrates something that is rather disengaging. Even at seventy-two minutes there's only so much one can take from this overly-silly, rambunctious material. Once the idea is out there and the gears of the plot have been running for about forty minutes, you sort of feel yourself becoming cold to the material.
The film was directed by Glenn Berggoetz, whose film The Worst Movie EVER! made headlines for grossing only $11 opening weekend from one ticket sale. Clearly, quantity of the film's gross and quality don't go hand-in-hand because the film was a fun, genial little endeavor that showed the joys of low-budget filmmaking and tremendously laughable plotlines in action, all at a concise seventy-five minutes. Berggoetz seems to be one of the only filmmakers today that wants to channel the Mystery Science Theater-movie style and I'd say he is more than qualified. Midget Zombie Takeover can be testy at times as far as pacing goes, but nonetheless, the amateurism provides a close-to-home nature, the action is kind of fun, and it's pleasant and harmless all the more.
NOTE: Midget Zombie Takeover will be screening at festivals throughout the United States. Additional information can be found on the film's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MidgetZombieTakeover
Starring: Kristi McKay, Matt 'Goose' Goosherst, and Anita Nicole Brown. Directed by: Glenn Berggoetz.