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Sometimes, spooky season just needs something silly.
Zombie Town tells the story of the small town of Carver on the eve of Halloween, named after the iconic horror director, Len Carver (Dan Akroyd). Everyone here is anxiously awaiting Carver’s next horror classic, except Mike (Marlon Kazadi), a teenager who works in the local movie theatre. He’s unimpressed by horror films but decides to screen the film early in order to attract the attention of his friend, Amy (Madi Monroe). However, when things go horribly wrong and the town turns into zombies themselves, Mike and Amy will have to work together to break the spell before their hunger for brains eventually destroys the entire town.
Although the film is directed by Peter Lepeniotis, the name in the credits that stands out most is that of author R. L. Stine. As the creator of the lucrative Goosebumps universe, Stine’s name is synonymous with the mysterious for decades. Even though Goosebumps is more than comfortable sitting in the eerie and mysterious, those tales always remain age appropriate with their tone. In this spirit, while Zombie Town doesn’t quite achieve that level of classic youth horror fare, Stine ensures that it remains family friendly in its style. In essence, Zombie Town enjoys sitting in the spooky but never succumbs to the scares.
That may sound like a criticism… but it isn’t.
Instead, Zombie Town is a solid pick for families looking for a night of fun during the Halloween season. In essence, Town enjoys its supernatural mystery but ultimately emphasizes laughs over genuine scares. (Admittedly though, the film is likely not suitable for the youngest viewers.) Much of the fun stems from some enjoyable work from its cast. Kazadi and Monroe form a delightful pairing as they battle their way through zombie hoards in the midst of romantic tension. Czerny absolutely hams up his zombie-fied role, even if his screentime is limited.
But it’s very possible that the one who’s having the most fun is Akroyd himself. The once-and-always Ghostbuster has always enjoyed stories of the paranormal and Zombie Town invites him to play in a new sandbox. Akroyd is given ample time to embrace his silly side as Carver, a man who both fears his own fame yet also fears losing it.
What’s interesting though is that Carver’s story leads to some surprising conversations regarding fan culture. Similar to the fervent nature of Marvel fans, Carver’s fanbase pour over his work. There’s a certain sense that any content he produces needs to maintain the legacy of his previous work. But, in doing so, their fervour can lead to toxic dedication to a product that, while enjoyable, ultimately isn’t worth their rage.
Even so, Town’s biggest conversation lies in the realm of fear itself. As Max continues to point out his hatred of zombie films in general, we also sense that there’s something going on underneath. Refusing to admit his fear, he also keeps a part of himself hidden away from Amy out of embarrassment. As a parent of two, I can see that this is the sort of conversation that can genuinely help encourage younger people to understand what it means to own their fear—and the power of talking about it with another person.
Admittedly, even with its strengths, Town’s script is often wonky, preventing it from becoming something truly memorable. Nevertheless, given the film’s audience, one can forgive its shortcomings. Tapping into the spirit of the season, Zombie Town is the sort of film that plays perfectly for families who are looking for a laugh that toys with the dark side. So, while the film may not inspire fervent devotion, it’s certainly a Town worth visiting.
Zombie Town is available to stream on Hollywood Suite on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024.
