COCKNEYS VS ZOMBIES
UK, 2012, 88 minutes, Colour.
Rasmus Hardiker, Harry Treadaway, Michelle Ryan, Alan Forde, Honor Blackman, Dudley Sutton, Georgina Hale, Richard Briers.
Directed by Matthias Hoene.
Cockneys vs Zombies a rather good addition to the increasing number of small-budget, horror films which exploit a genre but are very much tongue-in-cheek. The tradition began with Shaun of the Dead, and its successor, Hot Stuff. Other examples of this kind of film include Attack the Block.
The plot is quite slight, two young men devoted to their grandad decide to rob a bank. They choose the worst possible day because the group excavating near St Paul’s Cathedral has uncovered a vault which contains infected bodies from the 17th century. The zombies overwhelm the workers, then out into the general public of London. Once the men have robbed the bank, with the aid of their cousin, taking a bank teller hostage as well is a very buttoned up bank assistant, they find that the police outside have been transformed. They hide out in a warehouse for a while, but eventually have to make a dash for it for the old people’s residence.
In the meantime, there is a gallery of actors led by Honor Blackman, with Alan Forde, Georgina Hale, Dudley Sutton as well as Richard Briers.
Once the young team up with the old, with the staff at the residence already living dead, the veterans act up with zest as they do gunbattle with the zombies.
Fans will enjoy it very much – and other audiences who come across it by accident may well be very amused.
1. The British tradition of horror films, with parody, from Shaun of the Dead?
2. This film deriving from the tradition? Horror, aliens, tongue-in-cheek?
3. Small-budget film, the benefit of the cast of veteran British actors? The songs? The musical score? Special effects?
4. The digging near St Pauls, the discovery of the vault, the 17th century? The historical information? The burial? The infected bodies?
5. The two brothers, their concern about their grandad, their characters, working together? The visits to the home? Knowing the residents? The decision to rob the bank? To pay for the improvements at the home? Going to the bank, the girl, her help? The cousin? The proper man from the bank? Driving, attempting to flee, being pursued, the crash, finding the zombies, including the police? Hiding? The warehouse? The zombies taking the banker? The action sequences and the escape to the institution?
6. The institution, grandad as the leader, loud, character? The singsong for the oldies? The staff? Honor Blackman as a type of action lady? Richard Briers enjoying himself as the old man, sitting outside? Georgina Hale and the sex emphasis? Dudley Sutton and his place in the home? The interaction between these characters?
7. The siege of the home, the staff becoming zombies, the craze zombies outside, confronting the zombies, the cache of weapons? The destruction, the group getting onto the roof? Action and adventure for the oldies?
8. Saving the day, ultimate victory? And yet…?
