The Dead Outside (2009) is described in review quotes on the sleeve as “a seriously creepy zombie apocalypse” and “a side tale to 28 Days Later”, both of which are a bit cheeky and misleading. It’s a low, low budget post-apocalyptic character piece filmed in Dumfries and Galloway. In the wake of a pandemic that has left the infected incoherent, raging maniacs three unaffected survivors shelter in a remote Scottish house.

My initial reaction was of the “Oh suffering Christ” variety. How many more remakes of Night of the Living Dead can the world cope with? Well if there’s room for one more then make it this one because there’s a lot to recommend it.

There’s a professional lustre to it which a lot of UK zombie knock-offs can’t manage, but more importantly it makes a virtue of its micro-budget concentrating on character and back story rather than red paint and digital pudding.

It reminded me a bit of Chris Gorak’s 2006 movie Right At Your Door but set in a drab Scottish landscape rather than an LA suburb. This is a compliment.

http://feexby.com/2010/02/27/220210-270210/

Posted by Kris R. Bird on February 28th, 2010 | Category: Blog, The Dead Outside | Leave a comment