Mutants take franchise on scarier path
Army of the Dead Netflix
Zack Snyder returns to the world of zombies for the first time since 2004’s Dawn of the Dead remake – a film that, despite its glowing reputation, I wasn’t a fan of.
After his well documented issues with Warner Bros helming Justice League, Netflix have given Snyder, also on writing duties, complete control to realise his apocalyptic vision.
Army of the Dead starts with a crash, before transitioning into the traditional majestic Snyder musical opening credits sequence, and rarely lets up from there.
We get straight into the simplistic plot – a gang of mercenaries’ race against time to enter a zombie-ridden Las Vegas to seize the ultimate payday – and are given short, sharp introductions to the cast.
Despite the no messing about attitude, the film clocks in at two-anda-half hours and would have benefited from uncharacteristic restraint from Snyder.
The New Mutants Sky
Cinema Premiere
While The New Mutants can’t touch the likes of X2 and First Class, it isn’t the nightmare many envisaged.
Director Josh Boone and co-writer Knate Lee go down the horror route – a first for the franchise – and it suits the potentially destructive powers at our protagonists’ fingertips.
The lead quintet’s claustrophobic time stuck in a secret facility gives a One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest vibe and Boone shrouds his film in literal and tonal darkness.
But the climax’s‘big bad’was a little too out-there for my liking and there’s a lot made of a plot twist that I saw coming a mile off.