World War Z’s final hour has nothing like the brutality (CIA loon David Morse literally pulling teeth), heartbreak (Gerry failing to convince a family to flee their apartment) or Roland Emmerich-esque set pieces (Zombies invading ALL of Israel) of the first. Every ounce of believability turns to implausibility and luck, while a few major questions are left unanswered. That constant atmosphere of helplessness and menace evaporates and, suddenly, we’re confronted with half-baked zombie in-jokes and conveniently-placed Mossad agents. Notorious for its extended re-writes and extra few months of production, the second half of Forster’s film was entirely re-written – partly to keep Mireille Enos out of a prostitution-driven-work-camp and other such harsh, thought-provoking topics – to make sure everyone stayed happy and comfortable. He kills infected neighbours in front of his children, he is prepared to off himself at the first sign of infection and he kills a living human to protect his wife. These first 60 minutes are so sharp, so merciless, that you cannot help but sit and watch in fear. Re-recruited by the UN in return for his family’s safety, Lane is sent out across the world with a Harvard professor as a last-gasp attempt to understand the virus and save the world. More accurately, it’s torn apart by a brutal virus that leaves tens, then hundreds, then millions convulsing on the road – before forcing their heads through other people’s windscreens. Very, very quickly after we meet this loving family, though, the soft, cosy safety net of his new life disappears. All his years of experience uncovering Chechen war crimes have prepared him for such problems as his daughters not washing up their plates and occasionally begging for a puppy. Gerry Lane (lovely Brad) is a retired UN investigator-turned-house-husband to The Killing’s Mireille Enos. The opening half of the film contains a gritty, believable air of peril that immediately out-scares most zombie flicks of late. It’s slicker, arguably smarter and often braver than most films of this scale… for about an hour. Based on Max Brooks’ hit novel of the same name, produced by Graham King and blending the ‘infected’ style of modern zombies with worldwide bureaucratic chaos, World War Z looked to be slicker than your average brain-eating-rage-virus-undead-creature. World War Z must have been an easy pitch.
WHERE CAN I WATCH WORLD WAR Z TV
Watch World War Z online in the UK: All 4 / TalkTalk TV / Apple TV (iTunes) / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / Rakuten TV / Google Playīrad Pitt fights zombies.