Maggie: DVD Review

May contain mild spoilers

The film “Maggie” is the screen legends, Arnold schwarzenegger’s first foray into the zombie apocalypse genre.  Maggie is an independent art house film, and is far removed from the blockbuster status of films like “World War Z” or any of the other zombie movies that have been released. The film itself is more a family drama than a horror story and I can’t help feeling that the zombies could have been removed and replaced with some other menace, and the film would not have suffered. It revolves around a runaway girl named Maggie played by Abigail Breslin who is found and placed in a medical holding facility for having a zombie bite. Her father Wade, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger arrives and takes her home after being told by the doctors that he has 6-8 weeks before she “turns”. The rest of the film deals with how the main characters cope with impending doom and how the small community reacts with each other.

The story itself is unique in that it begins as the zombie infection is ending, a voice on the radio says that infections are down and life is returning to normal for the most part. It was fascinating watching a film that told a zombie story that did not involve the world or society collapsing. In fact society in the film exists with a government, local law enforcement, and medical facilities all functioning well. I rather enjoyed the setting as it allows the viewer to be more involved in the family narrative since the world at large is in no real danger of being overrun.

The acting in the film is quite good, with all the main actors playing their roles well-rounded. Abigail Breslin does a good job showing the advancing symptoms of the virus and also does well emoting the emotions that come with each transformation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger who is best known for his action roles, turns in a very good performance as Maggie’s father. The role is quiet and very different than any role he has taken on before. This film does show that with the right direction Arnold Schwarzenegger is capable of turning in work of a greater acting caliber.

Overall, the film was a pleasant surprise. The direction from first time director Henry Hobson is good and does the job of bringing suspense and horror when needed. The music blended well with the type of direction and cinematography for this movie. Speaking of the cinematography, this was the films strong point. The picture was  tightly filmed in muted colors and showed the despair of the players well.

One of my favorite shots from the film (above) really captured the apocalypse of the film, not the end of mankind per say, but the end of one family.

I give this film a solid 3/5 and would recommend it if you would like to see a different take on the zombie apocalypse and a different performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger.