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Wyrmwood Has a Place Among the Zombie Hordes

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9 years ago

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Those of you who’ve read my articles before understand that I’m a bit of a zombie fan (the half-sleeve is also a dead giveaway). However, I’m rather particular about what I consider a good zombie film. My selectivity comes from the boundless number of bloated corpses floating in the genre since Shaun of the Dead relaunched the walking corpse legacy in the early 2000s. Following in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s footsteps, every Tonya, Dick, and Jeffe with a spare thousand bucks and a high-end cam decided to slap together an undead flick.

While I applaud their creative effort and independent spirit, the undead subgenre is awash with mediocre fare, for which Hollywood is just as much to blame (*ahem* World War Z. The book was so much better.). For this reason, when I discover a zombie film that actually impresses me, like 2014’s Wyrmwood, I want to shout it from the body-strewn post-apocalyptic rooftops of the future.

Loosely based on an apocalyptic biblical prophecy, Wyrmwood opens as a meteor shower dazzles the Australian outback. Before anyone can quote Paul Hogan or Steve Irwin, a lightning-fast plague spreads through the populace, infecting many with that old familiar incurable cannibalistic eating disease. After being attacked by her assistants in studio, Brooke calls her brother Barry to warn him about the very real threat. Alerting his family, they flee the city in search of safe haven. Unfortunately, after removing their masks, his wife and daughter succumb to the rapidly manifesting plague, forcing Barry to kill them and nearly kill himself–save for missing bullets.

Running out of gas in the wilds, Barry happens upon another band of survivors, including sardonic Benny and dour mechanic Frank, who’s holed up in a remote garage. Quite by serendipity, the ragtag gaggle discovers that while gasoline is no longer flammable, zombie blood is (huh?). They rig up a zombie-powered Mad Max-mobile and burn off in search of Barry’s sister and a better, more-fortified location to fend of the undead multitudes.

One of the latest zombie rompers from Down Under, Wyrmwood is a credit to its small yet austere regional pedigree. The Australian-New Zealand area has been a hotspot for unique and quirky horror–especially zombie flicks–since Peter Jackson turned the film world crimson with Braindead (aka Dead Alive). Since releasing his ultimate gore fest, it seems his efforts inspired several generations of indie splatter-hounds to give it a go. Unusual and amusing efforts of note include 2005’s Undead, 2006’s spastically funny Black Sheep, and 2009’s Last of the Living.

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I swear I’m not a zombie. They just made me watch “House of the Dead.”

In several ways, director Kiah Roache-Turner’s debut film is a somewhat refreshing take on the overcooked genre. Wyrmwood endeavors to work a little CPR magic on the zombie film with little touches like flammable walking corpses who only are fast at night, when they’re not incendiary (although Barry still managed to set one ablaze by accident during the night). Another nice touch is his sister Brooke (spoiler alert!). Captured by the ubiquitous creepy army doctor, she’s injected with zombie blood as part of his twisted and seemingly pointless experiments—although we assume his motivation is loosely based on finding a cure for the disease. After several doses, Brooke gains some sort of hive-like awareness with the other prisoners—a sort of zombie sensory perception (or ZSP).

Sure, the film has a few flaws. Nothing’s ever perfect. The rescue of Brooke seems a little Deus ex machina for me, but it’s a thrilling one nonetheless. Also, the creepy doctor isn’t nearly as creepy as he is irksome–no matter how many different ways I’ve seen it done, the Reservoir Dogs dancing-while-doing-something-messed-up homage still feels played out. But aside from a handful of sequences that don’t work as well, the acting is solid for low budget and the movie overcomes most other limitations with sheer Aussie bravado. I especially dug the characterization and portrayal of Benny. His flippant attitude act as a fun counterpoint to the steely determined Barry and the otherwise dismal reality of the film’s environs.

In a crowded and often less-than spectacular-field, though, Wyrmwood is a genuinely enjoyable picture. Comprised of all the right ingredients: a solid plot, a decent cast, and an enjoyable couple of zombie twists—as well as a host of undead film homages—this stomper from Down Under sets itself apart from an often mediocre genre.

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With a Creative Writing degree in one hand and an endless curiosity in the other, Andy dabbles in many creative fields. He's published blog posts, articles, hotel copy, fiction, and poetry professionally. Currently he dwells in Austin, TX, with his brilliant and understanding fiancee, Kim.

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Sony is reportedly engaged in discussions to form a partnership for a potential bid on Paramount

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14 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.

As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.

The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.

The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.

What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Fallout Season 2 has been confirmed as the show continues to captivate audiences, making it one of Amazon’s most-watched series

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14 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Amazon has just made the exciting announcement that a second season of the highly acclaimed Fallout TV adaptation is in the works. Fans can look forward to another thrilling installment of the series, which will be exclusively available on the Amazon Prime streaming service. Confirmation has arrived regarding the second batch of episodes for the series, following the acquisition of $25 million in Californian tax credits.

In just four days after its release, Fallout has already captivated audiences, quickly becoming one of Amazon Prime’s most-watched TV shows of all time. It has garnered immense popularity, rivaling even the acclaimed season of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.

The Fallout TV show has caused a massive surge in sales for the newer games, resulting in a staggering 7,500% increase in purchases of Fallout 4 in Europe. Fallout 76, Fallout 3, and Fallout: New Vegas were also among the top 10 best-selling games across the continent last week. Next week, the highly anticipated PS5 version of Fallout 4 will be released, offering players an enhanced visual experience with new graphical modes. Additionally, players can look forward to exciting new content from the Creation Club.

Considering the potential for character development and narrative arcs, it would be intriguing to see where season two takes Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul. Without revealing any spoilers, it’s exciting to speculate on the possible directions their stories could go. We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section.

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Helldivers 2 Players Face Overwhelming Hordes of Factory Striders

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2 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.

There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.

Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.

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