7. The Lazarus Effect
Actual Score: 14% The biggest critique thrown at this zombie flick is that it brings nothing new to the popular (and overdone) monster genre. A reviewer for the Daily Record puts it bluntly in saying, "Nothing fresh is brought to the screen and the stars end up treading water with well-worn cliches." But that's not really true. In fact, the final act twist puts an entirely new spin on what the undead are capable of. Olivia Wilde plays the scientist-turned-zombie thanks to a "freak accident" in the lab and a serum that is able to revive her, while creating a whole host of strange new synapses in her brain. So far, it's pretty much business as usual in the bubble of zombie thrillers. But, at the risk of spoiling some of the film's best scenes, The Lazarus Effect's version of a zombie is not the stumbling, brains-obsessed version of yore, nor is it the frighteningly quick but still one-track minded revamp made in 28 Days Later. Instead, Wilde's character retains total cognisance while actually developing heightened mental capabilities (including a few sinister superpowers). Besides, Wilde is great at playing a devilish menace, and the trauma of her subtly fleshed-out backstory makes for an intensely creepy (if slightly telegraphed) finale. The only thing unfortunate about The Lazarus Effect is its egregious underutilisation of Donald Glover. Adjusted Score: 60%