![]() Seems some nasty military experiment escaped in the Nevada desert. Over some stuffed-to-bursting opening credits (not unlike 2009's Watchmen), the entire world of Army of the Dead is laid out. Rather than breaking from tradition and finding interesting twists on familiar tropes, Army of the Dead leans into them. That is not to say that it delivers anything particularly unexpected. Army of the Dead is an original film, unfettered by any previous cinematic "zombie" universe. So it's no surprise to see him reestablishing his rep by returning to the genre. Unexpectedly stylish and amped with youthful energy, the film afforded Snyder his pick of Hollywood assignments. Snyder made his bones with the 2004 remake of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. So DC is busy "reevaluating" its cinematic universe, and Snyder is doing a zombie movie for Netflix. But fans grew weary and drifted to the far more colorful and diverse Marvel/Disney films. The Snyder films ( Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League) pretty much established what DC/Warner Bros. Snyder's auteur reputation has taken a hit in recent years, having churned out a string of grimdark, concrete-colored and increasingly overwrought comic book movies. How a nationwide theater chain can move forward as a business selling six tickets on opening night for the biggest film in current release escapes me.Īrmy of the Dead is something of a palate-cleansing return-to-form for director Zach Snyder (who also co-wrote, co-produced and did all the cinematography). Perhaps Army of the Dead was the appropriate film to see, because I may have witnessed the final, twitching signs of movie theaters in America transforming into the living dead. There were all of six other people inside, all carefully spaced out and wearing masks. Strapping on my mask (despite having received my second dose of Moderna), I braved the theater lobby, flashed the ticket QR code on my phone to the guy behind the plastic barricade, purchased a Slurpee (no cash accepted) and entered the carefully sanitized theater. It was the first time I'd been in a theater in over a year. Sensing a potential sea change, I opted to head out to Century Rio (the only multi-screen open in Albuquerque, currently) and experience an "opening night" screening of the film. Perhaps noticing the major lack of product to fill those screens, Netflix released its film to the non-streaming public a week early. Across the nation, with COVID waning, screens are starting to reopen. Last week, seven days before it was set to premiere on Netflix's streaming service, the zombie action flick Army of the Dead slipped into theaters. ![]() Army of the Dead is showing now in theaters and available for streaming on Netflix starting Friday, May 21.
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