I am a big fan of zombie movies. I’m not a “bandwagon fan”, meaning I didn’t just start liking zombies because they are currently popular. I’ve liked zombies since I was a young girl. I’ve always loved horror movies.
I first started to like zombie movies when I saw the original Dawn of the Dead (78′) film. That film was great. The remake was pretty good but I really like the original better. Even though the special effects were not as great as the remake, I think the original was way more creepy.
Whenever I hear about a new horror movie I am always excited to see it. I would never turn down a review for a horror film.
I was sent to review a film called Code Red. I was told it was like Band of Brothers meets zombies. Band of Brothers is a mini-series that aired on TV in 2001.
I don’t like war movies. I don’t know why but they really bother me. Even great movies like Saving Private Ryan, Bridge on the River Kwai and The Thin Red Line I can’t watch without feeling anxious. I’ll even close my eyes during battle scenes. For some reason war movies bother me. Maybe because unlike zombies, war really happens and war scenes are all too real.
Code Red starts off in World War II. The film’s opening is battle scene. I couldn’t wait for it to be over and they move on to the zombies.
In the film, Stalin (former leader of the Soviet Union) had a top secret nerve gas created. Some how it went missing after the Battle of Stalingrad (which was an actual battle). No one knew what happened to the gas, and some people never gave up looking for it.
Over 70 years later a biochemical “incident” at a base in Bulgaria leads some to believe the missing gas has been found.
An American soldier, US Special Forces Captain John McGahey (Paul Logan) is briefed on that event but not told that too many details about what is going on. He is sent over to Bulgaria to recover the gas which is believed to be deep inside a Bulgarian bunker.
Once in the city John visits NATO Doctor Ana Bennett who tried to care for the man who was exposed to the gas to get an idea of what he is looking for. He also meets Anna’s young daughter Miriam. Ana was relieved of her position after the incident.
John tries to retrieve the gas, but it’s too late. It’s released into the air. Most of the residents were able to escape into safety bunkers, but an unfortunate few were trapped in the city being turned into ravenous zombie-like people.
Ana was able to escape into one of the bunkers, but her daughter Miriam was separated from her. Miriam is trapped inside the city surrounded by blood thirty zombies.
Luckily for Miriam she is found by Captain McGahey. Now it’s up to him to get her safety out of the city and return her to her mother. Unbeknown to him, Ana is also looking for her daughter in the city along with another solider.
Will mother and daughter ever be reunited? Will the military be able to rescue the city from being overthrown by the zombies? To find out you need to pick up a copy of Code Red, available today on DVD.
Also included are some bonus features;
- Making of Code Red
- WWII Uncut
- Behind the Scenes & Outtakes
This films was just OK. I wasn’t overly impressed, but it didn’t totally bomb either. I guess you can say I’m “on the fence” with this one.
I wasn’t too happy with how the movie started (the WWII battle). But that is just me, I don’t like war films. I also think the start of the film was rather slow. Actually the whole film was slow until the gas was accidently released into the city, then things started to pick up.
Seeing a young girl, all alone, trying to run and hide from people trying to eat her was a bit exciting. In move zombie movies it’s adults trying to outrun the zombies. Try and imagine a young girl (I’m guessing she’s around 10) trying to do that.
There was a minor storyline with a pimp and a strip club. I have no clue why that was even necessary. It didn’t effect the story in any way.
I didn’t like the ending. I feel like it ended abruptly. I was surprised by the ending, but I didn’t necessarily like it.
If you are a die hard horror movie or zombie fan you won’t be impressed. If you are easily frightened, or you like both military and zombie movies, you should like this film since is mashes both genres together.
Look for Code Red where ever most films are sold.
Here is the film’s trailer for your entertainment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
M.Clark says
I do not like zombie movies, the only one I found enjoyable was Shawn of the Dead which is a spoof of Dawn of the Dead. Do you watch The Walking Dead television series? I don’t ….Needless to say I will not be watching this film. Thank you for this review.