Apocalypse Z

Madelyn Valento

Years ago, zombies would plague my dreams—eating me, eating my family—so I made it my mission to get over this fear in the only way possible: gorging myself on zombie media. 

As a result, I like to think I’m somewhat of a veteran critic when it comes to zombie movies. “Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End” released fittingly on Oct. 31. Based on a book of the same name by Manel Loureiro, it follows grieving lawyer Manel (Francisco Ortiz) and his cat as they decide whether to wait out the apocalypse in Pontevedra, Spain (conveniently, the author’s hometown) or follow Manel’s sister and her military husband to the supposedly safe Canary Islands. 

The film starts slowly, and so does its titular apocalypse. It begins with violent footage on the news and emptying shelves at the grocery store, followed by canceled flights and mandatory evacuations. The film refrains from showing the zombies too early and instead focuses on Manel’s grief and his developing relationships with other survivors, which I found to be the best part of the film. Otherwise, the movie checks off everything you could want in a good zombie flick: a capable protagonist, a lovable animal sidekick, and some pretty speedy zombies.

However, by the end of the movie it becomes apparent this is only the first of two or three films. There is no true ending—it feels as though director Carles Torrens yelled “cut” mid-scene and called the movie a wrap. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be left unsatisfied and frantically Googling for when part two is being released. Consider leaving “Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End” until that announcement comes.