Thursday, May 31, 2007

Interview with ZOMBIE DIARIES Director Kevin Gates

Who knew the zombie genre would have such a strong, steady rebirth?

Several years after the genre rebooted itself with efforts like SHAUN OF THE DEAD, Zack Snyder's DAWN OF THE DEAD remake and the Brit horror flick 28 DAYS LATER (which I said at the time "might just be the bleeding edge of a living dead renaissance"), zombie cinema is still going strong. While several high profile projects are either completed or in the works (George Romero's DIARY OF THE DEAD, WORLD WAR Z, Steve Miner's DAY OF THE DEAD reworking), one film – THE ZOMBIE DIARIES – has flown under my radar.

If you're anything like me you'll be itching to see DIARIES after reading this interview with director Kevin Gates. An obvious fan of the horror genre – unlike some directors who try and distance themselves from or act like they're above the material – Gates talks intelligently and at length about his influences, genre favorites and the similarities between his film and Romero's recently completed DIARY.

1 comment:

Nigel M said...

I must confess I ve been disappointed in the recent additions to the zombie genre. Land of the Dead for me failed to live up to my expectations, though I do a have a soft spot for the Dawn remake.

28 Days Later, despite some iconic scenes (notably the eerie deserted streets of London sequence) could have delivered far more than it did, and to be honest got a bit week in the second half of the film.

The one film which you did not mention which for me is worthy of the genre is the British romzomcom Shaun of the Dead.

It may be a well observed comedy that targets the self centred nature of the British middle class, but it is also a fine tribute to the earlier work of Romero and the Italian zombie cycle.

for me Shaun of the Dead is the pinnacle of the zombie revival.