Anna and the Apocalypse might not be the first zombie musical, but it is the first set at Christmas and it is a blast for fans of horror films and movie musicals. It's a lot of fun, a bit dark and gory, and will get your toes tapping to the musical numbers. If this review doesn't have you seeking this film for a holiday viewing, either I've failed in my job reviewing it or your heart needs to grow a few sizes.
The first thing making this film so special that it's not a jukebox musical. You won't find any popular tunes shoehorned into the script. Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly deliver a soundtrack that reminds one of an old school 50s musical, with the lyrics and tempo matching how the characters are feeling. It's brilliant work and is one soundtrack I'll be adding to my collection.
The story follows Anna (Ella Hunt, in a fabulous performance), as she's heading to school before Christmas break. Her best friend John (Malcolm Cumming), hitching a ride to school with her, let's slip to Anna's father, Tony (Mark Benton), that she plans to travel after her upcoming graduation, rather than heading to college. Tony is dismayed by this, but the discussion is put off until later, in favor of two great musical number, "Break Away" and "Hollywood Ending."
Yeah, it looks like an episode of Glee. But just wait, this film does have zombies!
During all the music, we are introduced to several students, including Steph (Sarah Swire), who is trying to get an article on homelessness onto the school blog, only to be blocked by the vice principle Mr. Savage (Paul Kaye); Nick (Ben Wiggins), a bully whom Anna appears to have slept with; filmmaker Chris (Christopher Leveaux), who is having difficulty completing an assignment for his class and his girlfriend Lisa (Marli Siu), who has a big musical number in the school play. Oh, I should mention that Anna's father Tony works as the school janitor.
Okay, our players are set, the zombie apocalypse starts, and everyone heads for the school to save their family and friends, foil Mr. Savage's weird attempt to seize control, and sail off for a Hollywood ending.
And once you hear that song, you'll know what I mean when I say mayhem ensues.
One of the more interesting aspects of the film is why it was set during Christmas, as none of the musical numbers deal with the season. With the exception of one (racy) holiday song performed by Lisa during the school holiday pageant, the film could have taken place during any season. But, aside from the notoriety, the choice of the season is pretty symbolic.
In the Northern hemisphere, Christmas is related to the Winter solstice, the longest night of the year, marking the symbolic death, and eventual rebirth, of the sun. The Winter solstice marks the start of deep winter, or the "famine months." Observation of the solstice was key to determining when to slaughter cattle (providing meat and conserving grains) and how to rationing food stores in order to survive until spring.
So you can look at the use of the season two ways. One, the apocalypse is the start of a season that will test the characters, one not all will survive. It's the start of the famine months, in a way. Though the zombies have plenty to eat.
But looking at the death and rebirth of the sun, the film becomes a metaphor for taking their first steps into adulthood. By the end of the film, the survivors have experience the same grief many of us did as high school friends drifted away and the high-school romance fractured under the weight of college or work. Sure, the zombie apocalypse makes the characters' losses in the movie quite permanent, and the pace is significantly sped up. But their experiences echo ours as they drive away fro the high school for an uncertain future.
Singing and dancing appears to make you lose your peripheral vision.
The script by Alan McDonald (based on a short film by Ryan McHenry) subverts the standard coming-of-age film troupes. My favorite example of this is Nick, who revels at the film's midpoint (and just before another amazing song) that he killed his father, who was bitten by a zombie. Yet during the climax, he delivers a line that reveals the crack in his bravado, a nice touch for the character.
John is another great example. His character could have been the stereotypical nice guy (in the song "Hollywood Ending," he sings about how he suspects the nice guy doesn't get the girl), but he's still Anna's friend. He supports her decision to travel, he says she can do anything, and he NEVER gets creepy. Sure, Anna starts looking at him differently as the film progresses, but he doesn't try to force himself on her. He's infatuated with her, but he would rather be her friend than a stalker.
And, at this point, I have to post a SPOILER ALERT. Skip the next paragraph if you want to avoid having some plot points spoiled.
The film has a couple of characters who don't make it until the end of the film, but their lyrics during the "Hollywood Ending" scene (and if you see the film, you'll know who they are), doom them. The two were the antithesis of that musical number, and as such, they get their Hollywood ending, as their romance never leaves the school. It's a brilliant subversion of the Hollywood musical/high school film, as many such romances never survive the crushing pressure of adulthood.
END OF SPOILERS. Hey, I kept it short for once!
And yes, as I said, you do get a Christmas production number. Just not one that's PTA approved.
The cast is excellent. As I mentioned before, Hunt is amazing, but the rest of the young cast are quite good as well. As for the adult actors, Benton is solid as Anna's father. Though he's upset about his daughter's plans to travel before college, his love and concern for her future is always evident. The only problem I have is the portrayal of the vice-principle, Mr. Savage. Sure, the character is suppose to be an ass, but Kaye is never given an opportunity to delve into why grabbing control of a high school is so important to Savage. Instead, he just becomes the cliche evil adult the kids have to fight against during the climax.
The script, the direction, the music, it all hit the marks. Director John McPhail stages the musical numbers beautifully, relying on the cast to convey the mood of each song, rather than a series of jump cuts. And the cast responses so well, it feels like watching a musical from the 40s or 50s.
But fear not, zombie fans. After the song "Turning my Life Around," as Anna and John sing about a brand new day and dance through the zombie apocalypse like Shaun going to the local market, a zombie snowman brings on the gore. And it's pretty good stuff, considering the R-rating, and you can tell the filmmakers knew they had to have some bloody zombie kills, but inventive ones as well. And the movie does deliver on that count, but without burying the characters in an avalanche of blood and guts.
How did we end up on the set of Jack Frost?
Anna and the Apocalypse is a truly infectious movie. The energetic cast, sharp direction and snappy songs should make this a classic for all horror fans. Unless your heart is two sizes too small. That's on you, ya old Grinch.
You can find this film on Amazon Prime, on DVD, or you can purchase an imported Blu-Ray if you have a region free player.
At least Anna won't shoot her eye out with her weapon of choice.
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