by Julianne Snow:
No Spoiler Synopsis:
A zombie apocalypse has all but destroyed humanity. At an isolated outpost just outside San Diego, an erratic scientist believes he has figured out the cause of the outbreak. Trying to prove his theory correct, he uses Physics in an attempt to convince a representative of the remaining government. Unfortunately his presentation goes terribly awry.
Review:
The premise of this film is incredibly interesting as it applies Physics to help explain why the Zombie Apocalypse has occurred. The film starts off as a bureaucratic doctor is taken to an isolated outpost to evaluate the claims made by one of the resident scientists. Once ensconced in the facility, after having to undergo a ‘bite check’, Dr. MacAvoy (Gary Graham – Star Trek: Enterprise, Alien Nation) is asked a series of questions by Dr. Vataber (Doug Jones – Hellboy, Hellboy II). The questions are Vataber’s way of introducing his theory and include conundrums I contemplated while writing my own series: where does the energy that allows ‘the Infected’ to move come from; why do none of ‘the Infected’ excrete waste; if they’re not excreting any waste, where does it all go?
All of these questions are predicated on the 1st Law of Thermodynamics – energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
So where does all the consumed flesh go if they’re not excreting it?
I’m not going to spoil the movie for you by telling you the answer, but I will say that the application of the law and the resultant outcome is quite logical – to a point.
I quite enjoyed the short film and cannot wait until the next episode is released; I want to find out what happens next. I enjoyed the acting and it was certainly nice to see DB Sweeney (Fire in the Sky, The Cutting Edge) on the screen again. The dialogue itself was handled very well considering the science that needed to be conveyed to solidify the point Dr. Vataber was making. My favorite line in the entire film was “You’re as crazy as a f*&king bedbug!” Okay, so it’s not physics related, but it was freaking hilarious in the context of the film.
Overall, I would recommend that Zombie fans and Horror fans alike watch Universal Dead. It may be short, but it definitely packs a punch. Oh, and watch out for IMPs. Consider yourself warned!
Filmmaker Press Release (4/2/13):
My San Diego produced zombie horror web series, “Universal Dead”, was an official selection of LA Web Fest. Last night was the awards ceremony up in LA and here are the results.
In the Fantasy/Horror/Science Fiction Web Series category, Universal Dead won:
–Outstanding Score
–Outstanding Director
–Outstanding Writer (that’s me!)
–Outstanding Web Series (that’s me too, as creator/producer).
And, best of all, Universal Dead won the Grand Prize: An all expense paid trip to the Marseille Web Fest in October. That’s Marseille, in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast. As in where James Bond goes to gamble.
DarkMedia contributor Julianne Snow was first lulled into the horror genre by her parents during an ill-advised viewing of Alien when she was only 4 years old. Since that date, it’s been a given that Julianne will watch and read anything that is horror related. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies from Sirens Call Publications and Open Casket Press, as well as The Sirens Call and various other websites showcasing short fiction. She is the author of the Days with the Undead series, which can be found on her website dayswiththeundead.com. Her first novel, Days with the Undead: Book One was published in early 2012 and is based on her popular web serial. Find her on Twitter @CdnZmbiRytr.
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