MOVIE REVIEW
“The Walking Deceased”
Grade: D-
Starring Tim Ogletree, Joey Oglesby, Sophia Taylor Ali and Troy Ogletree. Directed by Scott Dow.
Unrated but with nudity, graphic violence, language. Check listings for theaters. 1 hour, 23 minutes.
Bottom line: If you've ever seen a zombie movie, you'll get it
By Roger Moore
Tribune News Service
If Hollywood were to adopt “The Walking Deceased” business model, they’d never spend another dime on actors, known writers and L.A. film crews for a horror spoof.
It would be the end of the “Scary Movie” phenomenon as we know it.
Because “Walking Deceased,” a broad, low parody of “The Walking Dead,” “Zombieland,” “Warm Bodies,” “28 Days Later” and the entire career of George A. Romero, is no worse than most of those.
If you’ve ever seen a zombie movie or TV series, you’ll get the jokes — such as they are.
There’s a nerdy, virginal kid (writer Tim Ogletree) who narrates the story and gives us the “rules” of zombie land. He hooks up with a survivor of the zombie apocalypse dressed and acting like Woody Harrelson (Joey Oglesby). He calls himself “Chicago.” Last name? “Style Pizza.”
“Romeo” (Troy Ogletree) is a “vegan zombie,” dreamily staggering through a Texas mall where survivors have gathered, narrating his romantic narration in his head.
“It’s hard to push open sliding doors with zero motor skills.”
Then there are the siblings, Brooklyn (Sophia Taylor Ali) and the nonspeaking Harlem (Danielle Garcia).
Deputy Sheriff Lincoln, who has survived a month-long coma, hunts for his son, whom he insists on calling “Carl” when his name is “Chris.” Two “Walking Dead” gags in one. Andrew Lincoln plays Deputy Grimes on “The Walking Dead.”
The funniest thing in the film may be the kid’s survival strategy. He’s running a strip club, with zombies and his momma pole dancing for tips.
It may have seemed wittier on the page, with the Romeo/Romero puns and know-the-credits jokes with names and characters. The many members of the Ogletree family have written and acted in the lowest of low-hanging fruit, lame even for a horror parody. But after seeing it, you really do wonder if Hollywood will ever make another if a bunch of no-budget Texans can do no worse.
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