ApoKalypse

A feature-length animated dark comedy horror film written and directed by Lutz Geiger and starring Chris Koehne, Ravin Wong, Ao Mikazuki and Austyn Goveas.

A zombie apocalypse is taking place in Oklahoma and a group of people have found themselves caught in the middle of it. The main character, is Apo (Koehne), a young, carefree guy who enjoys skateboarding. One day, he goes to the local shopping centre, to the fast-food restaurant, where he works with his friend, Jamal (Wong). Not long after, zombies are everywhere and the two of them team up with Cho (Mikazuki), a youngster who works at an Asian restaurant and her parents.

Zombies are taking over and the heroes must fight their way through a shopping mall: this plot bears resemblance to the classic 1978 horror film Dawn of the Dead, a similarity that is not suggested as a rip-off but rather as a homage to George A. Romero's feature. ApoKalypse is a lot of fun, whether it is regarding the over-the-top violence or the clever humour. As the heroes are under attack, they defend themselves in all sorts of ways, be it stabbing, hitting or shooting the deadly entities. Unsurprisingly, there is plenty of gore, plenty of action and plenty of jokes with adult or dark humour. It is a wild and funny ride that has its fair share of outrageous moments that include a zombie giving birth and a badass woman armed to the teeth.

Regarding the animation, one way to describe it would be to think of shows like King of the Hill or Beavis and Butt-Head. There is not much detail (which is not a bad thing) and the colours look great. At certain points 3D animation is utilised, making things more interesting and huge commendations go to the animation during the opening and closing credits.

In terms of character exploration, the screenplay does a decent job, making the protagonists likeable and having a sense of humour. Apo is a well-meaning guy, a dude who has a passion for skateboarding and yet has not found true direction in his life. Jamal is his buddy and the two of them share many personality traits. Cho is Apo's love interest (and a good ally against the zombies and so are her parents). As for the zombies, apparently, they are the result of rat poison and when humans turn, their skin becomes green and they groan and move like zombies seen in many other horror films and series, however, there ones also talk.

On the surface, this is a story about survival. Looking closer, it also explores friendship, romance, social media and racism. This feature also serves as a commentary about life in the United States, making references to political campaigns and political movements.

Fans of films such as Braindead (and zombie films in general) will most likely enjoy this humorous and gory adventure. Viewers will have a good laugh and also take into account the themes that it carries.