THE SIGNAL

Mom always said that too much TV would rot your brain, and in this nightmare scenario, a deadly signal broadcast over the boob tube turns people into raving maniacs. All devices that receive transmission signals — e.g., TVs, radios, cell phones — suddenly start emitting a sonic blast that transforms ordinary individuals into raving, homicidal lunatics. In three separate stories, the lives of people affected by this horrifying predicament are explored.

Cast Anessa Ramsey, Sahr, AJ Bowen, Matt Stanton, Suehyla El-Attar, Justin Welborn
Director(s) David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Writer(s) David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, Dan Bush
Status In theaters (limited)
Genre(s) Horror
Release Date Feb. 22, 2008
Running Time 99 minutes
Web Site signalmovie.com

Who's in It: Anessa Ramsey, AJ Bowen, Justin Welborn, Scott Poythress

The Basics: A freak TV transmission turns everyone into zombie-like homicidal maniacs. Two young adulterous lovers try to survive the carnage and escape their suddenly chaotic town — called "Terminus" by the way — that's gone all bloodbath-insane. Indie all the way, it's harsh, jolting, funny and a strangely cool little calling card for its trio of writers/directors: David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry and Dan Bush.

What's the Deal? I know that the whole TV-turns-people-into-psychotic-zombies thing just made it sound like it could end up being a lame "message" horror movie, but it's really not. The only real skating-on-thin-ice element is that it does have a lot in common with the latest wave of hipster zombie comedy/end-of-the-world movies. But if it's true that horror reflects the anxiety of its era, then you should expect that ironic doom-themed gags mixed with decapitations are the way we live now. And it's nowhere near the last apocalypse-right-now one you'll be sold either. Be grateful, then, that this a good, fast, cheap gore-fest with way more brains than any of the Saw movies.

"The Last Girl" … That's what writer Carol J. Clover calls the standard-issue-horror-movie final-woman-standing in her really interesting book about feminism and gender in horror films called Men, Women and Chainsaws. And newcomer Anessa Ramsey gives what could have been a stock character more points of interest and real-life humanity than you're used to getting.

Great Double-Feature Companion Films: Given the number of spousal ax murderings going on here, it'd be most enjoyable with War of the Roses, Ingmar Bergman's Scenes From a Marriage and My Bloody Valentine.

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DIARY OF THE DEAD

Film students document the rise of the living dead in George A. Romero's latest zombie epic. Hope the kids get an A+ on what's sure to be their final project. A group of film students document the rise of the living dead in George A. Romero's latest zombie epic.
Cast Michelle Morgan, Josh Close, Shawn Roberts, Amy Lalonde, Joe Dinicol, Scott Wentworth
Director(s) George A. Romero
Writer(s) George A. Romero
Status In theaters (wide)
Genre(s) Horror
Release Date Feb. 15, 2008
Running Time 95 minutes
MPAA Rating R - for strong horror violence and gore, and pervasive language
Web Site MySpace Page myspace.com/diaryofthedead


REVIEW
Who's in It: Michelle Morgan, Josh Close, Shawn Roberts, Amy Lalonde

The Basics: Some college film students make a mummy/zombie movie out in the Blair Witch woods. Then real zombies take over the world. So they hop in their Race With the Devil RV and try to find a safe, zombie-free zone. Naturally, one of them shoots it all on his video camera the entire time, even asking his pals to stop and do re-shoots when he doesn't get what he wants for his instant documentary.

What's the Deal? You are being lied to all the time about everything. That's what George Romero's getting at. The kids with the video cams get the same footage as what's on the mainstream news, but the corporate-owned government lapdogs edit, rearrange and present the version it wants to show the public, downplaying the fact that zombies are about to eat everyone's brains, soothing and reassuring people that everything's under control. There's a war going on, and the American people are not being told everything. Sound familiar?

What Else Is Going On: This may be Romero's most "about something else" zombie movie ever. In addition to it being a critique of our current government and complicit media, it's also about surveillance and participation in culture vs. passive spectatorship of that culture. Give someone a video camera. Give him a place to show what he's made. Suddenly, he's a filmmaker, and he can watch what he's done online almost immediately. Then you can watch what he's done, and then you can watch other people watching what they've done. (Just check out the YouTube clips of people watching and reacting to "Two Girls One Cup.") In other words, most of the time it's barely about zombies eating dumb teen victims.

But How Scary and/or Gory Is It? Not scary at all. But there are some great gory parts. Zombies with exploding eyes, a vigilante Amish guy going mental with a scythe. If you want you can actually pretend it's not as smart as it is or even that it's good for you.

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