Life After Beth (2014) REVIEW

 

Life After Beth (2014)

I watched this film this afternoon on Netflix...it had very limited release in UK cinemas so I didn't get a chance at the time to see it on its release. Dane DeHaan and Aubrey Plaza star in this quirky, unexpected zombie romantic comedy. 

Remember him in Chronicle? He already feels like an actor who's is experienced and confident in his roles. He makes us believe his characters are real. He plays Zachary, who's girlfriend has just died, but oh wait...has she? She comes back literally from the grave. Is it a big joke? Or is she a real zombie? Her parents, including an her slightly creepy Dad, John C Reilly, want to keep this resurgence a secret, not only to the town, but to Beth too. She is pretty dazed and confused, unaware that she is the walking dead. 

Zachary soon realises that the world whole may be going slightly bonkers with undead. But, at the same time he stills manages to enjoy kisses from her and being able to tell her everything he wanted to before she passed. There are moments of real nail biting tension, and others of laugh out loud slapstick - at one point Zombie Beth has an oven strapped to her back and can hardly walk (Kudos to Aubrey Plaza for playing to laughs and genuine horror) But it all works. It's ludicrous but so original that it wins you over pretty quickly. 

I wanted to see more about what their relationship was like before her death, and the addition of Anna Kendrick's character feels rushed and unnecessary. Other than that, the make up work is excellent - you can literally see Beth's skin rotting away more by the second. It was not what I expected, but in a good way. 7/10