After playing at last September’s Toronto International Film Festival, the dystopian zombie pic, The Girl with All the Gifts, opened in the UK. Now, after months of anticipation, it can be seen exclusively on DirecTV January 26. Saban will then premiere the film in theaters on February 24, when it will also be released on demand.

The pic follows a scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future who embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie. It stars Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters‘ Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close and Paddy Considine.

Our very own Joe Lipsett reviewed the film out of the TIFF premiere, calling it a “contemporary take on Day of the Dead.”

Here’s a brand new trailer.

The near future; humanity has been all but destroyed by a mutated fungal disease that eradicates free will and turns its victims into flesh-eating “hungries”. Only a small group of children seem immune to its effects.

At an army base in rural England, this group of unique children are being studied, subjected to cruel experiments by biologist Dr. Caldwell. Despite having been infected with the zombie pathogen that has decimated the world, these children retain normal thoughts and emotions. And while still being subject to the craving for human flesh that marks the disease these second-generation “hungries” are able to think and feel making them a vital resource in the search for a cure.

The children attend school lessons daily, guarded by the ever watchful Sergeant Parks. But one little girl, Melanie, stands out from the rest. Melanie is special. She excels in the classroom, is inquisitive, imaginative and loves her favourite teacher Miss Justineau.

When the base falls, Melanie escapes along with Miss Justineau, Sergeant Parks and Dr. Caldwell. Against the backdrop of a blighted Britain, Melanie must discover what she is and ultimately decide both her own future and that of the human race.

The film is adaptation of M. R. Carey’s apocalyptic tale.

[H/T] EW