#Alive is not a bad movie. Coming out on Netflix, this movie reminds me a lot of The Kingdom TV show (IMDb link) as well as Train to Buson. While they are all Korean, the first two have better production value as well a lot better action and carnage scenes. Still, this movie is pretty good (see my #Alive (2020) movie review below).
The movie itself is about a guy trapped in his apartment while a zombie outbreak happens in his city. Trapped, he feels alone and completely useless to help himself. Not too long after he sees a light at the end of the tunnel when he meets a neighbor who is also trapped but has a will to live. From there it is the standard formula of people helping each other survive in a world that they are not prepared to face. Setting the movie in an apartment building makes it so there are very few options these characters have in order to escape and seek help outside. This is pretty unique but it doesn’t leave too many scenes where environmental limitations are used to outsmart zombies.
The things that were not great about the movie are the actions taken by our characters. In the beginning the male character is shown to have very little food and water. Somehow he survives pretty far into the story by rationing it AND having a lot of energy to run around. Another thing, why would you yell at somebody to expose your location if you know this person is already dead? Also, why would you leave your apartment if you have no weapons? He has no idea of how to defend yourself in case more than one slow movie zombie attacks him? Just seems dumb. Finally, if your apartment is surrounded by zombies, why would you make ANY sound, much less talk to somebody else? This is a very easy way to expose your location.
The main character is also kind of a scaredy cat. He plays a lot of games. One would think this would help him find a way to protect himself. Even fashioning a weapon out of things around him would help.
In terms of zombies, they are all the same. One moment they react and attack whenever they hear even the faintest of noises. On other scenes they don’t attack the obvious person when they land near them until that person gathers themselves up and is able to fight them. They are relatively fast and dangerous but there is no variation to them. They hear a noise, they attack. Rinse and repeat. Sometimes they are very strong, while other times they stand around in close proximity and can’t push away one person blocking their way. The make up is fine and the zombies behave like the normal zombies, all twitchy/spasmick.
Overall a good movie and the whole romantic angle was never forced or pushed too much. People help each other but there is also a small twist that is really easy to see a mile away but it will be fresh for people who occasionally watch movies, not people like me who watch them every day. The movie is pretty fun and it’s not overly gory so anybody can enjoy it.
Thanks for reading my #Alive (2020) movie review
