If ever there was a time for zombie(ish) creatures to cause mayhem and clash with crowds of raging humans, it is Black Friday. That term already summons up images of mass hordes, zombiefied consumers, and violent tussles. So this movie, throwing the two elements together, should be an easy success. Sadly, that is not the case.
A group of unhappy staff members are not looking forward to their shift on what is usually the busiest retail sales day of the year. Things get a lot worse when people start being more violent and dangerous than usual.
Let’s get straight to the point here. This feels very much like what it is, a horror comedy with a few decent gags couched in a solid premise that is never as good as it could be, potentially due to the relative inexperience of the writer and director. It also wastes some of the better cast members, something I will get back to soon enough.
Writer Andy Greskoviak must have been delighted to get his script turned into a feature, but he seems to be oblivious to the fact that he didn’t think things through thoroughly. Because if he had, he would make so much more of his main idea. The standard zombie movie threat occurring in the midst of Black Friday sales is a strong concept, and that is apparent from the first third of the movie, which builds the threat while clarifying how fed up many of the store staff are, but Greskoviak fumbles things when trying to strengthen the horror elements.
Director Casey Tebo cannot help to cover over the cracks. Despite this not being his first feature, most of his work being in music videos and non-fiction fare means that he doesn’t seem best suited to this. The script issues (gags falling flat after the decent opening, awkward character moments, inconsistent threat levels) feel worse when Tebo fails to find a way to keep the energy levels high and the presentation interesting enough.
And then we have the wasted cast. A couple of the younger cast members do okay, mainly Ivana Baquero and Ryan Lee, but Stephen Peck is made just a bit too annoying, Bruce Campbell doesn’t get enough great moments, Michael Jai White doesn’t get anywhere close to enough screentime, and Devon Sawa, a potential lead here, ends up sidelined in a plot thread that feels completely adrift from the rest of the film.
Put this on, enjoy the first 20-25 minutes, and then turn it off. That’s my recommendation. There’s a fantastic short film here, and it is spoiled by being stretched out to feature length. The longer it goes on, the less funny and enjoyable it gets. Much like footage of warring Black Friday crowds, ironically.
4/10
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