Fans are ready to forgive Zack Snyder for many things, but is a subpar zombie movie one of those things? Perhaps that's harsh because Army of the Dead only just released a trailer and the Dave Bautista starred zombie-heist film could very well propel a new cinematic genre and promises an incredible visual aesthetic.
However, Snyder also has one of the most demanding fandoms and a group of mercenaries planning a casino heist during a zombie outbreak may be a tad too upsetting for their tastes. The trailer, however, promises some taut actions and a great score. So far, Twitter is very divided on where they stand with Snyder's upcoming zombie film, and here are some of the reasons behind their dilemma.
Resident Evil Meets Generic Zombie Flick?
It is quite difficult to get excited about a zombie flick in 2021, given how much zombie content Hollywood has churned out in the last decade. Unless it's something edgy like Fido or has a novelty-driven format like Shaun of the Dead, a zombie outing could just get lost in the crowd. But Army of The Dead does have an intriguing premise and it's directed by Snyder which ups the ante somewhat. However, some people on the Internet still believe the action-first movie will fail to contribute something significant to zombie cinema and will end up being a rudderless potpourri of Resident Evil and Snyder's Dawn of the Dead.
A Great Near-Future Dad Movie
When did action-packed, apocalypse-ridden, near-future movies become dad genres? One Tweeter believes Army of the Dead, once released, will fall into the Mikael Håfström's Outside The Wire category, which is thrilling, engaging, and yet falls under the rather harshly termed "trash dad movie" genre. One can see how people may be thinking this since the film balances action with an interesting, supernatural element. But irrespective of buzz-worthy labels, the premise does have incredible potential even if as a comfort watch.
Too Much CGI
In hindsight, Hollywood has become too reliant on CGI. That's perhaps axiomatic since the industry is only producing more and more superhero blockbusters and big-budget action capers every year, but the tedium of it all needs to be acknowledged. Army of the Dead, too, has an overabundance of CGI. But fans can perhaps make peace with the flying helicopters and exploding casinos if the content is worth it. This fan is also quite cynical about Snyder's approach towards zombies, which is understandable considering his Dawn of the Dead reboot wasn't everyone's cup of tea
More Standalone Snyder, Please
Fans clearly want Snyder to leave franchise films alone for a while and go back to his early Sucker Punch days. Franchises in Hollywood may be money machines but they can often be draining, especially for the creatives behind the film. This fan points out that Snyder should perhaps explore more standalone films and original stories post Justice League to further diversify his filmography.
In a way, this is the highest compliment and proves fans actually want to see more of Snyder's original filmmaking and his cinematic vision. However, rumor mills already suggest that there's an Army of the Dead prequel and an animated series of the film in the works so maybe Snyder isn't leaving franchises after all.
Is That Tig Nataro?
It's very hard to criticize any project starring comedian Tig Nataro, but a Zack Snyder zombie caper with a combat vest-donning Tig Nataro is impossible to hate. Fans were obviously delighted when they spotted Nataro in the trailer because a zombie heist movie is the last place people expect to see her. Notaro plays Marianne Peters and her parts were reportedly inserted into the film through a combination of reshoots and digital compositing.
Dawn Of The Dead Easter Eggs
Eagle-eyed fans have already started listing all the Dawn of the Dead Easter eggs they think they spotted in the brief Army of the Dead trailer. This noteworthy zombie hoard sequence is of course, impossible to miss.
The two films may not be connected in any way, but Synder fans are definitely pumped to find out if there are more visual or symbolic connections between the two films. This fan, for instance, thinks both the movies may be a part of the same universe.
True Facts
The basic premise of the film is of course, shaky. Why would anyone need money if the world is disintegrating into undead chaos? The zombie epidemic in the film seems to be at its peak. Clearly, survival should be anyone's biggest priority at this point, so looting a casino may come across as a bit weird unless they have a really well-designed plot device.
Next Stop: Kaiju?
The visuals of the films are hugely appealing to the fans and many people have pointed out that the film would be worth a watch just for the sake of the stunningly curated visual experience. This one fan points out how well Snyder could helm a Kaiju production. Maybe a true-blue monster film made along the lines of an apocalypse. These devastating stills look straight out of an impeccably shot Godzilla film. Maybe Snyder would try his hand at a possible sequel for Godzilla vs Kong?
Big Hollywood Vs Streaming Giant
Snyder loyalists want him to stick with Netflix since Warner Bros reportedly declined the idea for Army of the Dead when Snyder pitched it years ago. Plus, he is releasing the Snyder Cut on HBO Max which proves that he prefers streaming platforms at the moment since it offers more possibilities. Clearly, Netflix wants to maximize the chances of this franchise by exploring all possible horizons.
Not Signature Snyder?
Some fans have pointed out that the color palette and visual arrangements are noticeably more upbeat than Snyder's superhero films. However those choices are deliberate, and Snyder obviously wanted this film to look and sound different given the fresh premise. This film is first and foremost a Snyder movie, and his first zombie project post his last phenomenally successful zombie project Dawn of the Dead, so the stakes are too high on this one. Which is why a total 180 on his visual style may be too big of a gamble.