Dead Rising: Watchtower

Dead Rising: Watchtower

Starring Jesse Metcalfe, Meghan Ory, Virginia Madsen, Rob Riggle

Directed by Zach Lipovsky

The Story:
It's been ten years since zombies invaded the world, and things seem to be looking up.  There's a new drug called Zombrex that prevents people being bitten to turn into the undead, and it seems to be fairly well contained.

A viral outbreak has begun in a small town in Oregon, and reporter Chase Carter (Jesse Metcalfe) is sent to investigate.  He soon discovers that the Zombrex has stopped working, leading to widespread panic and a walled-in quarantine area that he, Crystal (Meghan Ory), and Maggie (Virginia Madsen) are now trapped in.  Facing hordes of undead, a corrupt government and a gang of ruthless bikers, the three survivors have to use their wits to survive.

The Synopsis:
Movie adaptations to video games are often a tough sell.  "Super Mario Bros," "Tomb Raider," "Silent Hill" and "Resident Evil" are just a few video games to get the big screen treatment - and all bomb horribly.  There doesn't seem to be a good movie adaptation.

Unfortunately, "Dead Rising" is no exception, if only because it wasn't a mainstream film.

The movie was filmed for Crackle, and never received the big screen treatment.  You may think that turns it into a low-grade B-rated flick, but it's far from that.  The production values are above reproach, much like a big-budget action film (with some notable exceptions).  They gained some big-name actors including Jesse Metcalfe, Oscar nominee and "Candyman" legend Virginia Madsen, comedian Rob Riggle and "Once Upon a Time" stars Meghan Ory and Keegan Connor Tracy. 

Director Zach Lipovsky took to great detail to putting as much the game as possible into the movie, and - as a diehard fan of the video games - I truly appreciated that and noticed every small nod to the video game.  From crafting weapons to Zombrex to Psychopaths and especially Rob Riggle's performance as Frank West, Lipovsky crafted a well intentioned story with careful consideration to his audience.

Ultimately, what the film fails to deliver is a decent story.  It's a bloated two hours long, and if it was cut down by thirty minutes, it would've been better.  There was no real character development, and the story involving the government seemed contrived and unnecessary.  If you never played the "Dead Rising" games, you'd just see this as another zombie movie.

The Summary:
If you're a fan of the video games, you'll love seeing the Easter Eggs throughout the film. If you've never played the game before, why are you watching this?

The Score: B-