Movies
[Review] ‘Zombieland’
“Fleischer’s film is beautifully shot (his slow-mo sequences are stunning), engaging, funny, heartfelt and more importantly F-U-N. If you’re looking for a movie that has it all, Zombieland is a season pass worth picking up.“
Limber up, it’s one of the rules if you’re going to survive Zombieland, and not pull a muscle from laughing so hard. While Columbia Pictures’ film might revolve around the undead, what awaits you is an action-comedy that could easily be described as Shaun of the Dead meets Superbad, or for comic book fans, think “The Walking Dead” with laughs.
In the screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the world is now overrun by zombies, and Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg from Adventureland) is in search of his family when is comes across Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), who is headed in the same direction. When making a pit stop at a grocery store, they’re conned by two young girls, Wichita (Emma Stone from Superbad) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine), whom eventually join them in their trip west.
First and foremost, what makes Zombieland one of the best movies this year is the in-depth characterizations. The screenplay builds a mythology around these characters that aren’t just there to keep them from all acting alike, but also to provide comic relief throughout the entire film. For example, the film opens with the neurotic, terrified and OCD laden Columbus, who has turned his intense fear of the outside world into “rules”. These rules keep him alive, while entertaining the audience to no end. The rules find a way of being referenced on multiple occasions, each time more hilarious than the first. Then there’s Tallahassee, who is an intense, testosterone-fueled madman who is in search of one thing… a Twinkie. Then there’s Wichita and Little Rock, two sisters who have lived a con’s life, and are using their skills to stay alive. This is the core of Zombieland, as big FX pieces and action are only sprinkles of salt next to the masterful screenplay.
Speaking of action, the movie opens with Columbus trying to find a safe place to take a dump, which leads to an intense and hilarious situation that sets the horses off running. Zombieland is fast-paced and never, ever slows down. The pacing is dead on, and even in moments of revelation and/or serious heartfelt times, there are jokes and a sense of urgency that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. While most of the action comes from running and screaming, there are plenty of gunshots fired, and blood splattered across the cement.
The replay value of Ruben Fleischer’s film is extraordinary. Unlike many films these days, I can see myself watching Zombieland on multiple occasions. Not only does it live in the same universe as Superbad, but it also has quite possibly one of the all-time funniest scenes ever thanks to Bill Murray (I’m going to leave this as vague as possible, go see it). Fleischer’s film is beautifully shot (his slow-mo sequences are stunning), engaging, funny, heartfelt and more importantly F-U-N. If you’re looking for a movie that has it all, Zombieland is a season pass worth picking up.
This week’s big new horror release is of course Evil Dead Burn in theaters later in the week, but you don’t have to wait until this weekend to inject fresh nightmares into your eyeballs.
Five brand new horror movies have already released at home this week.
Here’s all the new horror that released on Tuesday, July 7, 2026!
Director André Øvredal’s (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) new movie Passenger is now available on Digital at home.
Here’s the synopsis for Passenger: “A few weeks into their van life adventure, a young couple witnesses a horrific accident that leaves the driver dead. Soon they’re being pursued by a demonic stalker who’s impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go.”
André Øvredal told Bloody Disgusting in an exclusive chat, “It’s a road movie, which is what I really fell in love with. It’s totally unique for me as a horror movie. Bridging the road movie with a haunting, essentially, on the road. I think it’s the scariest movie I’ve made.”
The cast includes Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Tony Doupe, Bonni Dichone, Devielle Johnson, Jessica Cruz, Miles Fowler, and Alan Trong.
The screenplay is written by Zachary Donohue (The Den) and T.W. Burgess (Mister Howl). Former Warner Bros production executive Walter Hamada, who steered the Conjuring and It franchises, is producing via his 18hz as part of his first-look deal with Paramount. It screenwriter Gary Dauberman is also producing via Coin Operated.
Supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and an eye-catching creature take center stage in The Leaching, now available on Digital from Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment.
“After waking up in a grave on her father’s isolated forest property with no idea of who she is or how she got there, Vivian must use her limited memory to piece together the nightmarish truth, all the while being tormented by the undead, a giant leech monster, and her ‘father.’
“Over the next few days, she will uncover the framework of a truly nefarious supernatural scheme, but will it be too late?”
The Leaching is written and directed by Evan Showalter (Ante Mortem, Bad Music Terry).
“The Leaching is an exploration of faith, the loss of self, and the monsters (literally) that emerge when people surrender themselves to something greater than they can understand,” says Showalter. “It’s an isolating horror film that plays with a very uncomfortable question.”
A film student finds herself trapped in a giallo nightmare in lo-fi horror movie City Wide Fever, which is now streaming exclusively on the Midnight Pulp streaming service.
The meta horror movie is from debut writer/director Josh Heaps.
In City Wide Fever, “Sam, a young film student, discovers a USB detailing the life and career of forgotten Italian horror director Saturnino Barresi.
“As she begins to investigate his mysterious disappearance, Sam finds herself pulled into a violent conspiracy eerily similar to those of the films she adores.”
Diletta Guglielmi, Angelica Kim, and Nancy Kimball star with Onur Tukel (Summer of Blood), Larry Fessenden (You’re Next), Carolyn Farina, and comedian Ian Fidance.
Paul Lê wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “This isn’t just a case of throwback filmmaking that’s been achieved with contemporary technology; the director used era-authentic equipment to help create this striking and nostalgic piece of modern horror. The end result is a movie… teeming with enough verve and style to make it feel fresh.”
A Gen Z slasher that pays homage to ’90s teen slasher movies, You’re Dead to Me is now available on Digital outlets at home courtesy of distributor Dark Star Pictures.
In the slasher film, “Three high school seniors skip prom for a secluded weekend party free from parents, school, and responsibility, but their escape turns terrifying when they learn one of their classmates has been brutally murdered.”
Denise Richards (Valentine) stars alongside Siena Agudong (Sidelined: The QB and Me, Sidelined 2: Intercepted), Jessica Belkin (“Baywatch” ), Ella Anderson (“Henry Danger,” Song Sung Blue), and Conor Husting (“Boo, Bitch”, Hollywood Stargirl).
The film was directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz.
You’re Dead to Me was co-written by Sarah Howard and Terry Castle, the daughter of the legendary producer and filmmaker William Castle (House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler).
Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Final Destination 5) directed the supernatural thriller Black Box, which has now taken flight on Digital outlets courtesy of Aura Entertainment.
The film is based on the short film The Vessel, and an original screenplay from horror writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hell Fest).
Black Box (Flight 298) follows the supernatural events surrounding Vero Airlines 298 from New Orleans to Seattle.
Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Kaja Chan, Asa Ali, Boadicea Ricketts, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Molly Belle Wright, Hanneke Talbot, Danny Mack, and Weronika Rosati star in Black Box.
Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (Barbarian, Boy Kills World) and Jon Oakes (Drive, The Guilty) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Warren Zide (The Final Destination, American Pie), and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker (Vessel) will executive produce.
What happened to Flight 298? Find out on Digital outlets now.
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