Review: Outpost

With all of the Nintendo stuff I do, it's nice to have a chance to take a break and get alone time with a good book, album, or movie. Circuiters, welcome to a rarity - Mr. MacKinnon reviewing a movie! Which can only mean one thing - it is either really good, or really bad. Want to find out more about this Zombie laden film? Then read on...

As a gamer, the world of Nazi Zombies is not an unfamiliar one. In fact, it is one of the best combinations that someone could ask for. In Outpost, we follow a businessman and a crack team of mercenaries as they venture into Eastern Europe to scope out an old military base. Once there, things go south, and fast.

It turns out the outpost was grounds for tests conducted by the Nazis. After several gruesome discoveries, the group is unfortunate enough to discover a survivor - just as their own numbers start dwindling rapidly in gory fashion. Admittedly, this doesn't seem like that much of a compelling story, it has, after all, been done in some way countless times. Nonetheless, there are points that make this an awesome movie.

For one, the acting is all around exceptional. Every actor and every character felt like they absolutely belonged. For the minor characters, also known as the ones that die first, their moments are there - even if it is being ripped to shreds or otherwise. For the major characters, such as D.C. (the big boss of the mercenaries), the acting was something out of an AAA movie. Ray Stevenson should be commended for his gritty and downright amazing performance.

Speaking of gritty, the whole film was just that. The camera makes use of several different lenses and shots throughout the course of the movie. For the most part, the camera is hand-held to help produce the sense of panic and confusion that the characters are facing. However, there are scenes where wild angles and sweeping motions are the name of the game - and it comes together beautifully. A green/grey filter is also applied through much of the film, keeping that gritty look there. Damn is this a fine piece.

The sound and effects are to be expected... nothing spectacular, but nonetheless satisfying. Never does the sound detract from the experience, but rarely does it add to it as a good horror flick should. That's just one small qualm. For those interested in the gore and bullets, though, you will be more than satisfied. There is plenty of gunplay, and the violence is kept in check by spacing it out through the 90 minute production.

Really, Outpost is an interesting case. While it is one of the finest zombie movies I have seen in some time (complete with one "what the fuck" ending), I can't help but wonder what is lacking. While the acting, effects and plot are, at the very least, passable... something just didn't bring it all together. It seems to me we have the pickle and peanut butter effect - great things on their own, somehow not so great combined. At the end of the day though, if you are after a horror/zombie/action thriller, Outpost is not to be overlooked. There are a ton of twists, many great moments, and my personal recommendation as one of the best British releases to meet late night airings to date.

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