Maggie is a horror film that aims at emotional effects rather than gore or scares. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Wade, in a surprising gentle performance considering his action credentials, who goes in search of his wayward teenage daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin) when a worldwide pandemic spreads rapidly. Finding her infected he takes her home to his new family with second wife (Joely Richardson) to spend her final days protected despite the insistence of the authorities that she must go into quarantine. The narrative fits into the zombie sub-genre but the very description can cause a false idea of how this film plays out. Certainly the disease gradually renders the sufferers as uncontrollable and obsessed with meat resulting in attacks on unaffected people. But this is a family drama with Breslin very convincing as the young girl who sees and feels herself changing but equally fearful of being taken from her family. But the big surprise here is Schwarzenegger showing a range that you could be forgiven for thinking was beyond him. He plays the loving and protecting father extremely well. A horror film with a difference and certainly one that is worth your time.
Firstly, if you are a fan of zombie films, then do not, I repeat, do not rent this, you will be thoroughly disappointed. If you are a fan of action, then you will be thoroughly disappointed. If you like boring films, you are in for a treat.
The film follows Maggie, after her father has gone in search for her during a viral epidemic and brings her back to the family home where she begins a metamorphosis. Well, apparently she does, hardly anything happened there. This is more like a family drama dealing with a problem than anything else. Yes, the odd thing does happen to try and keep you interested, but unfortunately, it doesn't work.
There will be some people who will enjoy this but for a horror fan, no.