Zombie films tend to follow a certain number of parameters; they usually involve a mis-matched band of survivors holed up in a single location surrounded by the undead. The survivors argue amongst themselves as they try to find a way out of the situation often with at least one of their number nursing a bite and slowly beginning to crave human flesh. As time passes their numbers dwindle and their situation becomes more desperate more often than not leading to an open conclusion.
'The Horde', the debut film from French writing-directing team
Yannick Dahan and
Benjamin Rocher released
this month on DVD, is no exception and follows this framework very closely. When a police detective is found murdered by a gang of homicidal mobsters, a small group of his closest colleagues on the force take it upon themselves to avenge his death vigilante style. Heavily armed and determined to see justice done, they manage to infiltrate the upper floors of the suburban high-rise apartment block that serves as the criminals hideout. The raid does not go according to plan and the cops find themselves overcome by the gang, who take them prisoner. Meanwhile on ground level with the sounds of explosions and sirens filling the air it becomes apparent that the commotion is being caused by ever-growing crowds of crazed people with a taste for human flesh. Its not long before the gang of criminals and their captive cops realise they are trapped together on the top floor of an unfortified building that is rapidly becoming infested with blood-thirsty legions of the living dead. Their only chance of making it to ground level and getting out of the situation alive is to join forces. With no hint that this is a zombie film until 20 minutes in, the film is less about the undead and more about the group dynamics of the two opposing sides with scores to settle. It is the cops versus the crooks with sibling rivalry and rogue elements in both groups causing the majority of the friction. As a result, all the characters are flawed making none of them particularly likeable which seems to be the films main problem. When there is little for the audience to like or empathise with, why should we care when the characters are in danger or life threatening situations? Another slightly disappointing aspect is that there are no reasons given for the zombie outbreak, no explanation at all, not even on a mention of it on a background TV or radio. This seems a little bizarre, most films of this type at least make an effort to offer some logic however far-fetched it may be, toxic chemicals in the water supply, military engineered virus, any of these would be better than nothing. Opting for a combination of slow moving zombies similar to the ones in George A. Romeros
Dawn Of The Dead as well as the faster more aggressive kind from Zack Snyders
Dawn Of The Dead remake, the film exhibits some excellent make-up and special effects work. The Horde is extreme in its relentless violence and is seriously bloody at times with heads literally being pummelled, limbs sliced off and heads blown apart, all meriting the films 18 certificate. There are some laughs in the film, particularly when the group are joined by an axe wielding OAP with a twisted sense of humour but on the whole the film is pretty dark leading to a very bleak ending. With occasional flourishes of stylish camerawork and editing The Horde is, for the most part, a fairly standard zombie flick which unfortunately offers nothing new to the genre.
Extras
The DVD released this month from Momentum Pictures offers a good, clean anamorphic transfer of the film with a choice of soundtrack options, the original 5.1 French audio and a dubbed English track also in 5.1. The English subtitles are presented clearly in white and seem to be reasonably well translated. The discs special features include a not so special making of documentary with the usual cast and crew interviews discussing their influences and motivations behind the film all interspersed with b-roll footage. 3 forgettable deleted scenes, a selection of trailers and a nicely illustrated set of storyboards make up the remainder of the discs extra content.
The Horde is available on DVD now.