The Living Dead

The Living Dead
Starring Jessica Jane-Stanford, Paul Danan, Aurie 'Styla' Green, Hakan Hassan
Directed by Fredi Nwaka

What I appreciate the most about horror cinema is the fact that its the easiest genre for an up-and-coming director to direct, and provide a unique vision that's set apart from different genres - in horror, you can make anything if you set your mind to it.  Horror can also blend different genres within itself, producing horror/drama, horror/action, and even horror/comedy, which is the route taken by first-time director Fredi Nwaka's "The Living Dead" (also known in the U.K. as "Are We Dead Yet?") - it's not just a horror film, but also blends action and comedy and produces a worthwhile whole.

Madison (Jessica Jane-Stanford), Barry (Aurie 'Styla' Green), Gavin (Paul Danan), Alan (Hakan Hassan) and Parksey (Bradley Turner) are a group of robbers who, after their getaway car breaks down, find themselves in front of a towering castle searching for shelter as the police are hot on their trail.  They take shelter in Drakelow Manor, and unbeknownst to them, find that they're not the castle's only inhabitants - it's haunted by a slew of ghosts who've been trapped there for centuries, waiting for someone to find the gold stashed on the grounds so they can finally enter eternal peace - except some of them don't want to leave.

"The Living Dead" refuses to let itself be pigeon-holed into one particular genre, and branches out to different genres to produce something wholly unique, satisfying, and exceptionally fun.  Yes, the castle is haunted much like countless other haunted house films, but what sets it apart is the fact that these ghosts have real characterization to them, and don't merely exist to spook the would-be robbers with cheap jump scares.  We meet these ghosts and see that they were all once people who unfortunately found themselves as victims on the grounds, whose souls haunt the castle and honestly some have a fun time at it.  There's a scene in particular that shows all the ghosts gathered around a long table enjoying a dinner, which again was something I haven't seen in any haunted house movie before, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. 

Not only that, but the film is an excellent action caper in the vein of classic Guy Ritchie films, with the five charismatic - albeit bumbling - robbers find themselves drawn to the castle through unlucky circumstances, and must find a way to get off the grounds alive and find the gold hidden within.  The banter between the five main actors is enthusiastic, hilarious, and perfectly timed with social commentary and pop culture references, especially from the hilarious Aurie 'Styla' Green, who plays Barry, the only black man in the group.  He's the most hesitant to enter the castle because, as he says, "when was the last time you saw a black man in a castle?"  He also points back to several films where the black man dies first, and resolves himself that he won't fall under that caricature, and is the most hyper-vigilant of the group.

Fredi Nwaka truly shines in his casting, as the film portrays African Americans as men of nobility who actually founded Drakelow Manor centuries earlier, and along with the founder, several other African American characters found their way to the manor as the years progressed, becoming entrapped in the castle's curse and haunting it with hilarious consequences.  Much like the personalities of the ghosts, "The Living Dead" also set itself apart by casting a wide array of multi-cultural actors and musicians to play pivotal roles, proving a unique look into the afterlife of these characters.

Much like other first-time directors, "The Living Dead" has a unique feel to it that you can sense from the screen, a film that was crafted, created, and envisioned by Nwaka and one that was embraced by everyone on screen and behind the screen as well.  The makeup designs for the ghosts were spot-on, and you can clearly tell that everyone was having the time of their lives in filming this small gem, which is something very typical for a first-time director's work.  The passion, the drive, the careful precision Nwaka put into each scene was wholly appreciated by the cast, and in turn they respected their director by giving it their all in each and every scene.  This makes the film re-watachable, as you feel like you're a part of the team as well, enjoying every minute of this totally bonkers, hilarious horror ride.  

Offering a unique blend of action, comedy, drama, and horror, "The Living Dead" sets itself apart for a first-time director's production by offering something for everyone, a passion film that is highlighted by fantastic performances, humorous dialogue, tongue-in-cheek comedy, and a deeply emotional drama all wrapped up in an amazing package.

The Score: A