What I always appreciate in any film, but especially one in the zombie genre (because it is so rare), are believable characters. Characters whose actions are logical, even in bizarre situations. And I always appreciate a writer's ability to develop a dramatic plot without relying on characters' moronic decisions to stir trouble. This is seen too rarely in this genre.
For anyone wondering whether this is their kind of zombie film, I'll try to knock up a short summary with no spoilers. :) The plot of Rammbock takes you to the very start of the zombie virus outbreak, it begins while the world is still "normal". When it happens, it happens very suddenly. What follows is of course shock and confusion and the horror of not knowing what is going on, then the subsequent eeriness of witnessing the society dissipate through loss of public communication channels, following which the characters must come to terms with the weight of the situation, and shift their usual priorities and inhibitions to bare survival.
You are taken through this process with the protagonists, witnessing the first few days of the outbreak and the fragile survival of people trapped in a residential building in the middle of Berlin, surrounded by hordes of the violent infected.
Although the director decided not to reveal much about anyone's background and past, this doesn't stop you from empathising and gradually growing fond of them. At no point are any (uninfected) characters polarised or dehumanised, even the nameless ones.
This is the type of zombie film with no over-the-top violence and very little gore, the accent is on eeriness and tension, rather than action and special effects.
I would say that as far as the zombie apocalypse topic goes, this is one of the more realistic portrayals of how it would look for someone in Europe.
If you liked 28 Days Later or Rec, you will almost certainly like this one. If you're more of a Resident Evil type of person, maybe skip it.
For anyone wondering whether this is their kind of zombie film, I'll try to knock up a short summary with no spoilers. :) The plot of Rammbock takes you to the very start of the zombie virus outbreak, it begins while the world is still "normal". When it happens, it happens very suddenly. What follows is of course shock and confusion and the horror of not knowing what is going on, then the subsequent eeriness of witnessing the society dissipate through loss of public communication channels, following which the characters must come to terms with the weight of the situation, and shift their usual priorities and inhibitions to bare survival.
You are taken through this process with the protagonists, witnessing the first few days of the outbreak and the fragile survival of people trapped in a residential building in the middle of Berlin, surrounded by hordes of the violent infected.
Although the director decided not to reveal much about anyone's background and past, this doesn't stop you from empathising and gradually growing fond of them. At no point are any (uninfected) characters polarised or dehumanised, even the nameless ones.
This is the type of zombie film with no over-the-top violence and very little gore, the accent is on eeriness and tension, rather than action and special effects.
I would say that as far as the zombie apocalypse topic goes, this is one of the more realistic portrayals of how it would look for someone in Europe.
If you liked 28 Days Later or Rec, you will almost certainly like this one. If you're more of a Resident Evil type of person, maybe skip it.