Review of the 1st two films in Wyrmwood Franchise

I’m a sucker for zombie movies, so much so I’m hardly what one would call a discerning viewer — I will watch just about any version of the undead you can toss my way. Why? I couldn’t tell ya, but I know I just can’t get enough of them. Sure, a lot of them get “old hat” since there’s only so many ways you can reinvent the dead…or so I thought until I encountered the Wyrmwood franchise.

The original Wyrmwood was so unexpectedly fun, campy, gory, bloody, and absolutely a high energy romp through a zombie infested wilderness that left me absolutely smitten. And I have to tell you when I got the opportunity to receive a screener for review for the sequel, I damn near fell off the couch due to my excitement. I think it’s the fastest I’ve ever replied to an email, quite frankly.

“What’s so great about Wyrmwood?” you ask. Allow me to explain!

The creators of this duology (that I desperately hope becomes an infinite franchise, hahaha!) have managed to breathe a freshness into the subgenre of zombie horror. Equal parts Mad Max and 28 Days Later, both installments of Wyrmwood are destined to become cult horror classics, or at least I will campaign for that status as hard as humanly possible.

You get plenty of classic horror action set in the Australian Outback, where a zombie outbreak has occurred and things have suddenly gone completely sideways. “Right. Great. How original!” you may find yourself saying. But wait, there’s more! There’s a mad scientist on the loose, who is using the zombies to fuel his madcap research. And the zombies have their own special defense mechanism (I won’t spoil it for you) and even have a special leader who can influence their hive mind tendencies. And there’s wacky modified vehicles in the style of post-apocalyptic future sci-fi epic Mad Max! I couldn’t get enough of its low-budget, high-octane energy and found myself praying for a follow up installment in this chaotic, nonstop action, wilderness world of zombies.

I had to wait awhile for a follow up to Wyrmwood 1, but I indulged on the team’s next venture Nekrotronic while I waited, and that also didn’t not disappoint —another perfect blend of cheeseball comedy, sharp wit, futuristic cyberpunk sci-fi, and elements of horror. (Think Ghostbusters meets The Matrix plus zombies plus a dash of The Exorcist.)

Anyway, since this is a review of the current film, I really should highlight some of the things that make it great, but I think you can get the gist of what makes me love it so much regardless.

Wyrmwood: Apocalypse picks up exactly where the original left off, so it is required that you watch the first before jumping into this one. We follow our soldier pal back into the wilderness as he tromps along capturing survivors and zombies alike, and doing his part to further the scientific research into the zombie origins and a possible cure. Until lo and behold, our protagonist discovers some news that spins his world topsy turvy, and he must make a decision to join forces with some unlikely players or face an even more frightening fate! As an added bonus, this sequel pumps up the girl power and introduces us to several new characters who are totally tough badass babes who definitely “don’t need no man” and certainly won’t be waiting around for Prince Charming.

In short, just like its predecessor, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse serves up unrelenting action, brutal kills and gory violence, cheeky humor and biting wit, and mixes it all up into a recipe for a clever genre hybrid. The performances are once again delightfully executed, the practical effects and costuming are a blast, and the props are outlandish and exciting. It’s just good old dirty, bloody fun and makes a perfect popcorn movie!

If you find yourself trying to pick the perfect movie that will satisfy a group for a movie night with friends, this one will hit the spot. Great fun for fans of The Evil Dead, Ghostbusters, Mad Max, 28 Days Later, The Walking Dead, etc.

I will ravenously consume as many of these fiery, feisty futuristic flicks that these filmmakers wish to dish out, and I hope they continue to build in this world. I’d for sure watch a TV series set in this bubble if they’ve got the stamina to pump it out! Three cheers for Wyrmwood: Apocalypse.

Review by Ellen Avigliano
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