[Film] Before Dawn (2012) Review

Back in Blighty for this one. Emmerdale's most loved character Paddy (Dominic Brunt) stars in and directed Before Dawn. I thought it wasn't going to be that good, but that was judging a book its cover. It's actually a quality film, although the first zombie is seen 40 minutes in and the first zombie kill was just over an hour into it, it is still a really good film. A couple go for a weekend away to work on their marriage, however this remote getaway takes a turn for the worse when zombies start appearing. Because it is set in the countryside in the middle of no where it kind of keeps the suspicion going.

The graphics are just as good as anything I've seen. The bits of gore that are in the film are some of the heaviest scenes of gore I've seen in some films. The zombies are actually quite scary, especially because they are fast too.

Overall a very good watch, with an ending that I did not expect. People will presume it is a crap budget film but all I can say is give it a chance.

The Walking Dead Graphic Novel Volume #22, A New Beginning

I've been long awaiting this considering it came out around a month of so before Christmas, so I'm probably a little late on this review. However, the story is definitely changing and things are going in all new directions.

I don't want to give away spoilers and Volume #22 is great, but I can't help feeling like I'm drifting away from the storyline and I'm starting to forget since around volume #18. I'm not confused, I know what happening and there are a wealth of new characters. I guess I'm wondering where this is going to go, I think I'm sad that the main group have split up and it's strange for me to follow their new lives separately. A certain someone, one of my favourite characters isn't in Volume #22, although they are mentioned, so their circumstances in the post- apocalyptic world are presumed, once you refer back to what they were doing in he previous novels.

There's one set out dialog that will get you thinking. I suppose it reminds me of George Romero's 'Land Of The Dead' however... You find out more towards the end. This is the first scene in which you think 'what?!':

Now I just eagerly await Volume #23.

Merry Zombimas!!

Hope everybody had a lovely Christmas and got many Zombie gifts to enjoy!

My family and friends know that I'm zombie mad so they didn't lack when it came to zombie-themed presents. The gifts I got were amazing!!

I received two amazing books - 'The Mammoth Book Of Zombies' edited by Stephen Jones which includes 26 stories all revolving around zombies. The second book I got was 'Can You Survive The Zombie Apocalypse?' by Max Brallier.

My favourite animals are penguins so I got this cool t-shirt with a zombie penguin on it.

I received five graphic novels to add to the collection, these are:

Night Of The Living Dead: Aftermath Volume 1 by David Hine and German Erramousepe
Night Of The Living Dead: Aftermath Volume 2 by David Hine, Ernesto Chaparro & Thomas Aira
The Walking Dead: Volume 22 by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stephano Guadiano & Cliff Rathburn
Toe Tags featuring George A. Romero with Tommy Castillo & Rodney Ramos
Empire Of The Dead by George A. Romero

I was so happy because a couple lovely people bought me seven Funko Pops from The Walking Dead series. These included:

Prison Rick Grimes
Penny
Michonne & Her Pets (PX Previews Exclusive) 3 set
Carl Grimes
Maggie Greene

I am so chuffed because this means I am one away from completing the set (one of each character, sod getting every single one) that I wish to achieve and that guy is The Woodbury Walker! Can't wait to nab him somewhere. I also love the Michonne three set! It's amazing!

I got a cool version of 'Where's Wally' but this ones called 'Where's The Zombie' by Paul Moran. It's such a cool book and I was so pleased when I got it, it made me laugh. I love it.

Finally, I got three DVDs:

Before Dawn (film)
In The Flesh series 1 & 2
The Walking Dead series 4

[Documentary] Birth Of The Living Dead (2014) Review

A couple of weeks ago I was walking around HMV looking for Carl Sagan's Cosmos and by chance I managed to spot this new release titled 'Birth Of The Living Dead.' It's a really cool documentary about the origins of Romero's 'Night Of The Living Dead.'

The documentary gives insight into the history of the sixties regarding the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. This shows what the audience of the sixties felt about this film and especially when it came to a black man being the hero. The meaning behind this film goes so much deeper into the social context of the time. There's a political aspect to this sub-culture, underground film. As Romero states, the main character, Ben, was not written with a race in mind, they purely hired Duane  because he was a great guy.

Romero has a good sense of humour in this documentary and he made me laugh a lot, making me so glad I met him as he's obviously a decent bloke. I love is hippyish use of the word 'man' and he explains how ten of them chucked in $600 each and managed to make a movie. All cast members being family and friends and people they have previously worked with. They managed to beat the odds - budget, being a black and white film and not being well known film makers.

A mad fact is that nobody knows how much money it has made. They received no royalties for this film due to copyright issues. Somebody forgot the copyright sign in the opening credits!

If you get this, there's still scenes after the credits. It's a great companion alongside the film, definitely recommend it.

The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 8. Mid-Season Finale

We all knew something big was going to happen but wow. I was sort of expecting it but I did not expect it to hit me that hard and actually make me cry.

What a brilliant episode and I hope everyone watches the bit after the credits.

I can not believe it if I'm honest. And I can not believe we have been waiting since February to watch Season 5 and now we have to wait until February again to watch the next half.

This has been an amazing season so far and I'm really liking where they are going with this. I guess now these posts will start up again in February. I honestly can't wait.

The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 7

I found this episode just as slow as the last but, I'm glad it incorporated parts of everybody - excuse the pun - at least we know where everyone stands.

The zombies in this episode were disgustingly gross, they are so good at special effects, which really adds to making the show feel real.

We can definitely see a huge change in Rick, I hope he doesn't become a bad guy. I doubt it, though.

The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 6

This episode was very slow. It's based on when Carol and Daryl followed that car to go looking for Beth. They bump into a certain someone from two episodes ago, and that's pretty much it.

I like how we see the city and how desolate and destroyed it looks - amazing graphics, imagine actually being there.

It has been so bloody long since we have seen Rick and I won't deny - I'm worried, and so wanting to know what is going on with his lot. Did he follow Abraham? Or have they made another choice? Guess we will have to wait.

The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 5

What an episode.

So we are still stuck on the two cliff hangers left from the two previous weeks, but this episode was great.

It was quite slow compared to the previous four episodes, but we follow Abraham and his mob on their journey to DC. We also find out Abraham's life story and a little secret about Eugene (if you have read the comics, you can probably guess it).

After three cliff hangers, I'm hoping next week all three, or at least one of them is wrapped up.

Eager for next weeks now!!! Hoping we see a bit more of Rick... And Carol.

The Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 4

The cliff hanger from episode 3 is still looming around in our head, but episode 4 was completely mind blowing. At least we know what is going on with Beth and where she is - don't worry, no spoiler, you know this from the beginning of the episode. It's all based on Beth and it's a really intense episode. My heart was actually racing, it has been a lot throughout series 5 - I think it's the most tense season yet.

The cliff hanger of this episode, though, is like none other. I couldn't believe what I saw, which makes me more nervous when it comes to next weeks episode. Hopefully all works out in episode 5 but knowing the producers anything could happen and I hope it doesn't turn for the worst. 

Halloween - London Bridge Experience - Zombie Elephant Plush

For Halloween I was taken to The London Dungeons which was absolute brilliant. It goes through the history of London in the goriest ways, with a little boat ride that I was too scared to open my eyes on. Because we had so much fun we decided to continue the outing and we went to the London Bridge Experience. Similar to the Londom Dungeons, you get the history of London Bridge - which is so very gruesome. Then you enter the 'Tombs' which is just a scare fest - and blimey it was scary. Even though the London Dungeons was brilliant, I felt the London Bridge Experience with The Tombs was better and scarier. I would definitely recommend both these places - especially if you love horror.

Now onto the part regarding zombies. In the London Bridge Experience gift shop I found a bunch of zombie plushes which were so amazing - I wanted them all. But, I opted for the zombie elephant, he was bigger and had cooler additions to him than the others, but was still the same price.

A really cool thing is that if you pull his fez, his little peanut brain pops out! I thought this was a great idea and it was the thing that swayed me to buy him. Plus, I just really love elephants. Secondly, he has a detachable dead mouse stuck to his foot, quite a well thought out addition. He has a little hand/gloving missing and his trunk is sort of, cut in half, so you can put your finger in it! He's an amazing plush and he is made by the company Animazombs if anyone wants to get one!