Rent Fallen Soldiers (2015)

Napoleonic flesh eaters! - Fallen Soldiers review by NP

This is a zombie-lite zombie film. Director and co-writer Bill Thomas has put together a commendably restrained take on the genre and placed it within the time of the Napoleonic War. This very interesting variation of the zombie idea is executed well within the limits of the budget, with many long, conversation set-pieces.

We spend much time listening to recollections of characters; luckily the actors are suitably interesting to listen to. Much of what happens is told rather than shown, but we are given several sequences that feature a small array of convincingly undead creatures, often in flashback. At one point, duplicitous John Cross (Matthew Neal) yells at another character, “Don’t you ever shut up?” Whilst not an unreasonable question, it should be pointed out that Cross also has much to say for himself.

As do they all. Such relentless chit-chat, no matter how well conveyed, becomes tedious, and you know that the occasional action sequences are just an interruption of that. A little more zombie gore and action would unlikely have blown the budget, and made things more interesting. My score is 6 out of 10.