Review: 'Warm Bodies'

Summit Entertainment

There is always an initial interest level for a film established when first finding out its premise. After first hearing about the premise of Warm Bodies, my interest for the film was high. To me, it sounded like a fresh take on an apocalyptic zombie genre that, more often than not, offers a lot of the same. Even if it does nothing more, Warm Bodies is successful in offering something different within a genre that has gained a reputation opposite of this. Even with execution flaws, Warm Bodies still manages to literally add heart to a lifeless genre.                          

Warm Bodies tells the love story between a zombie, R (Nicholas Hoult), and a human, Julie (Teresa Palmer). The two first encounter each other when Julie, her boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) and other humans are searching for supplies. R and a group of zombies, while searching for food (humans), come across the same human group. R is immediately drawn to Julie but is immediately shot by Perry which results in R killing him. It is here that R explains, through voice over, that if a zombie does not eat the brain, the human will turn into what is referred to as a corpse zombie but R goes on to explain that the brain is the best part to eat because a zombie can experience the memories of the person whose brain they are eating.

While eating Perry’s brain, R becomes even more interested in Julie so he saves her from being killed by other zombies and takes her back to a plane that he has made his home. Convinced by R that it is not safe to leave, Julie stays with him for several days which leads to a mutual attraction between the two. As R’s affection for Julie grows, he gradually becomes more human like. The other corpse zombies see this relationship between the two and also start to develop human qualities like dreams and heart beats. R and Julie now must convince the other humans, including her reluctant dad (John Malkvich) that these corpses zombies can become human again while also trying to stay clear of the other zombie race, Boneys, that will stop at nothing to kill them.

Warm Bodies appearance is definitely not where it differences from other apocalyptic zombie tales. There are the usual broken down establishments and vehicles along with the lack of color that add up to a ‘seen it all before’ back drop. During the opening credits, R explains that the zombies in the area inhabit what used to be an airport which makes for some cool shots during this opening sequence but after this, has nothing to do with the films plot. The Boney zombies also offer nothing new in term of aesthetic appeal. The Boneys are the zombies that are supposed to be feared but with poor design and choreographing, these characters hinder the intensity level that the films finale is aiming for.

At its core, Warm Bodies is a love story, making it all the more disappointing when this aspect of the film comes off as flat. With that said, it is important to note that I was not looking for a breathtaking romantic story but the lack of emotional investment between the films main characters and the development of their relationship makes it difficult to fully buy in to the fact that the film is a romantic comedy. R is turning human because he is falling for Julie but this is made hard to believe. This could be contributed to the lack of chemistry between Hoult and Palmer but dialogue and pacing is where the problem really lies. Billed as romantic, zombie comedy, this relationship would have been better off with much faster, heartfelt dialogue with the pacing to match. Instead a drawn out, choppy dialogue hurts the appeal of the relationship. I’m aware that zombies have difficulty speaking but with Hoult giving a respectable performance as a zombie, a chance for golden non-verbal dialogue from R’s side of things was missed out on.      

With that said though, Warm Bodies makes up for its unoriginal backdrop and slow pacing by its attempt to turn the tables. With most Zombie movies it is pretty straight forward. You have the good guys, humans, against the bad guys, zombies. Why are the humans killing the zombies? Because the zombies are trying to kill or eat them. In this regard, Warm Bodies is the same. It differences can be found in its way it dehumanizes the human’s and humanizes the zombies. As I mentioned in the description of the plot, R developing feelings for Julie causes for him to begin to turn human again. The humans, however, are hesitate to be around other humans who have been in contact with zombies. For example, Julie’s father does not hesitate to refuse let her, his own daughter, enter the human camp if she has been even slightly effected by a zombie. This lack of compassion and selfish motivation causes for the humans to appear as the heartless ones while the zombies are learning how to love again.

This aspect of the film is most impressive in the way that it is never explicitly said or spelled out and is subtle enough that this flipping of emotions is clear but not to the point that one side is rooted for more than the other. This is important because of the involvement of a third party, the Boneys. The Boneys may not put the fear God in you but are successful in providing a cause for the corpses and the humans to join forces.

Yes, Warm Bodies is another zombie movie. It looks like a zombie movie in every single way but does that mean it is just the same old thing when it’s story is dug into? No which makes it a film that can be widely recommended. If your fan of the zombie apocalypse genre, Warm Bodies is recommended due to its aesthetic appeal. If this genre is not your thing, you may find satisfaction in its attempt to switch the normal emotions given to zombies and humans. However, if it is a full out, romantic comedy you are looking for than Warm Bodies will likely keep you looking but how much can one complain about a lack of feeling and emotion? It is a zombie movie right?

Grade: B-