PLANE DEAD (aka FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) (2007)
Starring: David Chisum, Kevin J. O'Connor, Kristen Kerr, and Erick Avari
Directed by: Scott Thomas
Don't be put off by this films title. Originally titled "Plane Dead" (a better title)but recently changed to "Flight Of The Living Dead: Outbreak On A Plane", Director Scott Thomas, helming his first horror film, has taken all the traditional trappings of your average zombie film and transplanted them effectively onto an airplane.
The plot surrounds a
jetliner heading for Paris, but with a potentially deadly cargo onboard.
Three scientists have been working illegal experiments with a rare mosquito
from Africa that contains a strain of virus that could stop any part of a
human's anatomy and then restart it. Deciding to take their experiment
further they process enough of the virus and try it on a female scientist,
thus killing her and bringing her
back to life, seemingly normal. But when brought onboard, she is locked in a
metal container so she cannot get loose. The scientists are on their way to
Germany, the only country that would let them continue their experimentation
without government trouble.
The plane, of course, hits heavy turbulence, and the container is opened. A guard assigned by the scientists shoots and kills her when she then becomes a flesh-eating zombie. It is not long before most of the staff and passengers are infected, the pilot and co-pilot are killed, and the United States sends a jet fighter to shoot the plane down. Sounds like too much plot for just one movie but believe it or not it works.
Earlier I mention
"trappings" of a zombie film, one of the most used is the dead rising from
their graves. Since there
are
no graveyards on a plane, the next best thing was used. The zombies were all
in the cargo hold beneath the floor of the passenger section. The zombies
break up thru the floor and come up as if rising from the grave.
The writing and acting are above average for a film of this type. Though not filled with "A" list actors, there are a number of faces you will recognize from other films. There is comic relief in the form of actor Kevin J. O'Connor, who also gave humor to "The Mummy" and "Deep Rising". The airline pilot played in the Denis Leary film "The Ref", Actor Erick Avari played the curator in the first Mummy Film, and Actress Siena Goines plays on television's "Jericho".
There is also one very humorous running gag as one of the passengers, bitten and turned into a zombie, is still strapped in his seat. All during the film he cannot grab onto anyone to bite and he become increasingly frustrated.
The effects are very well done, with enough gore to please fans without
being excessive. Search out this film when it makes it way to the U.S.
My Rating:
REVIEWED BY TONY BERNARDINI
