50 years after the Cuban Revolution, a new Revolution is about to begin.
If it’s not too late in the day for yet another zombie movie, this has enough small pleasures — especially in the lead characterisations — to make it a worthwhile watch for a) Cuban exiles and b) long-term zombie completists. Others may be slightly bewildered.
This wacky zombie comedy exploits to the full this genre's juicy potential for satire: a more solemn kind of movie maybe couldn't get away with being quite as irreverent about the Castro government.
Brugues' film can't decide whether it wants to be clever-clever or crude-crude, so it goes for both. As a result, a strong stomach and broad sense of humour are required.
Juan of The Dead is rough and ready, the effects are a little shoddy, the comedy is broad and sometimes homophobic but there are just enough whimsical moments and deadpan hilarity to make it worthwhile.
Rather overstays its welcome.
Zombie comedy and a critique of Castro combine in this mildly scary, occasionally brilliant satire.
Rum zombie flick blends hit-and-miss buddy comedy with slyly subversive political commentary.
Alejandro Brugués dispatches the undead with cartoonish glee (slingshots!) and resurrects the genre’s political subtexts with jibes at a country where zombies are dismissed as “dissidents” and public transport continues to run, no matter what.
Alejandro Brugues
General release. Check local listings for show times.