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Movies / On DVD / American Zombie
American Zombie

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American Zombie (2007)

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Reviews Counted:18

Fresh:13

Rotten:5

Average Rating:6.5/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Genre: Theatrical Release, Los Angeles, California

Theatrical Release:Mar 28, 2008 Limited

Synopsis: Filmmakers Grace Lee (The Grace Lee Project) and John Solomon (Nonsense Man) team up to shoot a documentary about high-functioning zombies living in Los Angeles and their struggles to gain... Filmmakers Grace Lee (The Grace Lee Project) and John Solomon (Nonsense Man) team up to shoot a documentary about high-functioning zombies living in Los Angeles and their struggles to gain acceptance in human society. Despite their wildly different working styles, the two manage to chronicle the hopes and dreams of four fascinating subjects: IVAN, a convenience-store clerk who longs for a career in publishing; LISA, a florist trying to recover her lost memories; JUDY, a hopeless romantic who learns to accept her true nature; and JOEL, a committed political activist striving for zombie rights. As Grace strives to get to know the zombies “on their own terms,” John is eager to uncover their darker side and rallies to get the crew permission to shoot at a three-day, zombies-only retreat called Live Dead. What transpires there is beyond anything the filmmakers could imagine, as they are forced to reevaluate their ideas about tolerance, identity politics, and the future of the human race. Although unquestionably a dark comedy, AMERICAN ZOMBIE, unravels and expands into the realm of personal documentary and horror, providing a fresh take on the zombie movie genre. The film blurs the line between fiction and reality, incorporating verité and found footage and borrowing elements from the filmmakers’ and subjects’ own backgrounds to create a personal horror film about life in 21st century America. [More]

Starring: Austin Basis, Suzy Nakamura, Al Vicente, Jane Edith Wilson

Starring: Austin Basis, Suzy Nakamura, Al Vicente, Jane Edith Wilson, John Solomon

Director: Grace Lee

Director: Grace Lee
Screenwriter: Grace Lee, Rebecca Sonnenshine
Producer: In-Ah Lee
Composer: Woody Pak
Studio: iHQ

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Release:

Jul 8, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Despite their wildly different working styles, Grace and John manage to chronicle the hopes and dreams of four fascinating subjects: IVAN, a convenience-store clerk who longs for a career in publishing; LISA, a florist trying to recover her lost memories; JUDY, a hopeless romantic who learns to accept her true nature; and JOEL (pronounced "Ho-El"), a committed political activist striving for zombie rights. As Grace strives to get to know the zombies "on their own terms," John is eager to uncover their darker side and rallies to get the crew permission to shoot at a three-day, zombies-only retreat called Live Dead where the documentary takes an unexpected - and dangerous - turn. What transpires there is beyond anything the filmmakers could imagine, as they are forced to re-evaluate their ideas about tolerance, identity politics and the future of the human race.
  • Source: Cinema Libre Studio
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    Reviews for American Zombie

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    1 - 18 (sorted by comments)
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    Lee wants to make an up-with-dead-people portrait that shines light on how the diverse zombie community integrates into the city.

    Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly | comment Comment
    03/31/08
    Amy Nicholson
    Amy Nicholson
    I.E. Weekly

    The mere fact that [director Grace] Lee can make both a media satire and, in the end, a creepy horror flick, while at least alluding to bigger social issues, suggests the breadth of her wit and intelligence.

    Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
    01/24/07
    Andrew O'Hehir
    Andrew O'Hehir
    Salon.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    If you're looking for zombie horror, this is not the film for you (not enough gut-ripping and arm-chewing), but if you're looking for zombie fun, check it out.

    Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
    05/29/07
    Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
    Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
    TheMovieChicks.com

    If Lee intended primarily to spoof documentary conventions, she should have chosen a theme less commercially overexposed -- and worked harder at making it more than just sorta-kinda humorous.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/23/07
    Dennis Harvey
    Dennis Harvey
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Proves that there's still lots of humor and insight to be found in the walking dead.

    Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
    04/02/08
    Devin Faraci
    Devin Faraci
    CHUD

    American Zombie is hands-down the best film I've seen so far this year.

    Full Review Source: MovieWeb | comment Comment
    04/02/08
    Devin Faraci
    Devin Faraci
    MovieWeb

    [Director] Lee covers all bases and when we least expect it, she also manages to sneak in a creepy zombie flick...

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    07/08/08
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed

    Doesn't add much to the contemporary zombie genre or even the horror comedy genre but does provide light entertainment, especially if you like jokes about filmmaking.

    Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
    04/04/07
    Jette Kernion
    Jette Kernion
    Cinematical

    A clever kind of documentary hybrid.

    Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Jonathan W. Hickman
    Jonathan W. Hickman
    Entertainment Insiders

    A cleverly-comedic, high-concept adventure, artfully-executed, and thought-provoking, too!

    Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
    03/25/08
    Kam Williams
    Kam Williams
    NewsBlaze

    Besides managing to be a statement on racism, a parody of a documentary, and an enjoyable character conflict between two egotistical directors, it's also a straight up zombie comedy!

    Full Review Source: Cinerina | comment Comment
    03/29/08
    Karina Montgomery
    Karina Montgomery
    Cinerina

    The film satirizes well-intentioned socially conscious documentaries, examining how zombies have been integrated into the general population. It has a rewarding last half hour if the viewer can wait it out.

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    03/14/08
    Mark R. Leeper
    Mark R. Leeper
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    It is essentially a one-joke premise and while it might have played beautifully as a 30-minute short subject, there just isn't enough to it to sustain itself as a 90-minute feature.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    03/27/08
    Peter Sobczynski
    Peter Sobczynski
    eFilmCritic.com

    American Zombie works on several levels of satire.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    03/27/08
    Rob Gonsalves
    Rob Gonsalves
    eFilmCritic.com

    Lee's film proves that it's a genre as viable as ever, endlessly flexible and perpetually illuminating.

    Full Review Source: Projection Booth | comment Comment
    03/27/08
    Rob Humanick
    Rob Humanick
    Projection Booth

    The best zombie movies shock us into a realization about ourselves and the world in which we live, but how much can zombies teach us when their world so closely resembles 1995?

    Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
    03/27/08
    Sam Sweet
    Sam Sweet
    L.A. Weekly

    Quippy send up of identity politics documentaries offers some occasionally biting moments.

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    03/28/08
    Sara Schieron
    Sara Schieron
    Boxoffice Magazine

    Performances vary widely in quality. Some of the "experts" who expound on zombie culture are portrayed by such amateurish actors that the film threatens to collapse.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
    03/24/08
    Stephen Farber
    Stephen Farber
    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
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    Latest News for American Zombie

    March 26, 2008: Grace Lee mockumentary with mission to humanize zombies. Opens in new window
    More...

    March 09, 2008: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
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    January 25, 2007: Slamdance: Interview with "American Zombie"'s Grace Lee
    Director Grace Lee's first film, "The Grace Lee Project," was an exploration of identity that asked the question, "What's in a name?" In her latest, "American Zombie," she looks... More...

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