Land of the Dead (2005) Dir: George A. Romero

Romero takes us on a fourth outing of his much celebrated 'Zombies' narrative, this one a very modern, very different animal from its precursors.
The plot: Set at an unspecified time, both in terms contemporary and in relation to the other movies in the series (assuming this is all the same universe in the first place - an argument for another time) here we see the teeming dead setting siege to a luxurious high rise community, Fiddler's Green (an unfortunate turn of phrase for those in the UK) which is 'governed' by Dennis Hopper's grotesquely wealthy and uncaring Paul Kaufman.
Those within the walls of the city are protected from the masticators of mankind's matter, by both river and electric fence, living in relative contentment whilst the world beyond falls into ever deeper decay.
A small band of survivors do what they can to eke out an existence, taking what they need from abandoned shops whilst at the same time protecting themselves from zombies and would be thieves alike.
Kaufman himself is responsible for an armoured vehicle known as Dead Reckoning, replete with heavy artillery and a barrage of fireworks which are used to distract the corpsified ones when necessary. What Kaufman doesn't reckon upon is that his world of comfort is about to be shattered on two fronts; by a slighted ex-employee who takes offence at being given the boot, and by the zombies who seem determined to get their hands on the fresh meat within Fiddler's Green.
The zombies themselves are an evolution - perhaps in response to the Rage style monsters that inhabit the more recent 'zombie' movies such as 28 Days Later and even the Dawn of the Dead remake - now capable of handling tools and performing rudimentary tasks and they have a leader, an emotional zombified sort who keens and wails whenever any of his own kind fall.
With Romero, you expect social commentary and he delivers, this time his ire apparently aimed at the recent trend for the wealthy and privileged to inhabit gated communities, isolating themselves, shut off and protected from The Great Unwashed.
Perhaps not as gory as Day of the Dead, this still has enough gruel to satisfy most blood fiends out there, though it is worth noting that, however blasphemous it may be to state this, some of Tom Savini's make up design for the zombies is starting to feel a little out of date.
Whilst I am aware that this movie does not quite reach the heights of the previous offerings, this is still damn good quality horror, done the old fashioned way, which is to be commended.
Yes, I'm a fanboy when it comes to Romero and, yes, I have a bit of a soft spot for the zombie genre in general, but this ain't 'alf bad.
Besides, I'd forgive Romero most things.
I might even let him fellate me if he asked really, really nicely.

4 out of 5

[Rec] 2 (2010) Dir: Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza

Rip roaring sequel to the Spanish exercise in intensity that was [Rec]. Starting immediately after the events of the first movie, here we follow two groups of people, one for the first half of the movie, the other for most of the second, before their lives are inextricably drawn together in a shower of blood and viscera.
Group 1: A small troop of soldiers, armed to the teeth, sent in to find out what happened to the first group sent in during the first film, led by a man who claims to be from the Health Authority, but may not be all that he seems.
Group 2: Three youngsters with a camcorder who, being exuberant, inquisitive sorts, follow a fireman into the infected building by an alternate route, before promptly being sealed in by the police.
Just what is happening to the infected people, and where did the infection come from?
And what use will crucifixes be against the raving dead?
As a direct continuation, this is a real winner - I've always had a soft spot for horror sequels that pick up the action in the immediate aftermath of what went before.
The camera work is exceptional, with magnificent use made of POV shots so that, at times, as the soldiers lead gun first, you really feel as if you are right in there, like all of the best First Person Shooter games.
Whilst I've read complaint that the build up is not as effective as the original, as almost immediately we are plunged in, fear factor set to ten, I think that's missing the point. This is an exercise in endurance, testing the viewers boundaries, seeing how much screaming and feral munching of teeth we can tolerate before fleeing the cinema in actual physical pain.
With a great twist thrown in that I won't even allude to here, as the origins of the infection are drawn out, this is a killer horror movie that only the bravest souls should attempt.
Can't recommend it enough.

5 out of 5