Pitt vs zombies

World War Z (15)
Running time 116 minutes
Rating: ***
World War Z, the latest end-of-the-world saga, stars Brad Pitt as a zombie hunter, an intrepid World Health Organisation action man detailed to locate the origins of a horrendous infection that turns mankind into something distinctly inhuman.
Pitt is Gerry Lane, married to Karin, played by Mireille Enos (The Killing) and the story begins with him at home in America just as the infection, which takes hold in a hair-raising 12 seconds, starts its fiendish work.
Thus begins a changed life for him, one in which he is chased by zombie types with oozing blood, terrifying wounds, bent limbs and sharp teeth, all helped by a startling turn of speed.
Finally, he succeeds in getting himself and his family safe on an aircraft carrier, only to encounter some ‘admin’ type who instruct him to ‘get back out there’, find the source of the infection, and so save the world.
Frankly, Mr Lane, and especially Mrs Lane, think this is a bummer of an idea, but goodness (and the fear of being thrown off the aircraft carrier if he refuses) prevails, and he starts on the long trek round the globe to find the source.
This takes him to Russia, Israel and finally back to Cardiff. Yes, Cardiff, where Peter Capaldi (of The Thick of It fame) is a WHO doctor who helps Lane come up with a novel means to deal with the zombies.
Here we are offered the essential requisites of a zombie movie. One, the zombies shall look ugly, have evil eyes and bite people convincingly. Second, there shall be a barely-reasonable plot that keeps things jogging along between action sequences. Third, there shall be some good(ish) actors who can yell and scream. And finally, the special effects shall be very impressive indeed.
World War Z fits the bill in all requirements. Even Brad Pitt, an impressive actor given the right movie, manages to remain looking interested and gives the role his all, even though he appears to be in ‘Method Acting Third Gear’.
The special effects are remarkable, with one scene of thousands of zombies portrayed trying to scale a high wall, especially mind-blowing.
World War Z has been panned by some, and been given a lukewarm reception by others, but it does honour the requirements of a successful zombie movie. The tale and acting may not garner awards, but the special effects alone are worthy of an Oscar nomination.