Doc of the Dead
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Cast: Max Brooks, George A. Romero, Simon Pegg, Robert Kirkman
Red Letter Media
Not Rated | 81 Minutes
Release Date: March 15, 2014

Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (The People vs. George Lucas), Doc of the Dead delves deep into the evolution of the zombie sub-genre in film and literature.

The film, which features interviews with zombie authors, filmmakers, and scholars like Max Brooks, George A. Romero, and Robert Kirkman, explores the impact and influence of the living dead on pop culture.

With the participation of YouTubers and indie filmmakers, Doc of the Dead also investigates the possibility and aftermath of a real-life zombie outbreak.

Simon Pegg, Tom Savini, Stuart Gordon, Bruce Campbell, and other horror and science-fiction icons provide commentary on our fascination with zombies while recognizing the inherent use of metaphor and social commentary in the sub-genre.

From Romero’s Night of the Living Dead to Resident Evil, The Zombie Survival Guide, and The Walking Dead, Philippe’s Doc of the Dead covers everything zombie-related. And I do mean everything. Zombie walks, zombie 5Ks, zombie weddings – the level of fandom goes from fun and casual to scary and obsessive, with doomsday preppers building underground bunkers to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Doc of the Dead is making its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX. The documentary will then debut on EPIX Saturday, March 15 at 8pm. Phillipe’s latest film is more in-depth than The People vs. George Lucas, but still doesn’t quite feel like the definitive zombie doc.

At its worst, when opinionated “experts” drone on about the ramifications of a real zombie apocalypse, the film feels like an 80-minute version of AMC’s Talking Dead with a side of Ancient Aliens. At its best – when George A. Romero and Simon Pegg talk about zombies with some authority – Doc of the Dead is a fun, entertaining watch.

If you’re a fan of zombies (and let’s face it, you’re a human being in the year 2014 who is reading Geeks of Doom right now – so you are), then Doc of the Dead – an edgy, insightful look at contemporary zombie fandom — is for you.

Check out the clip here below for a raw interview excerpt with George A. Romero where the director candidly opens up about the filmmaking process, and the difficulties of making movies on a shoestring budget.

Clip

Trailer

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