Zoo (2018) by Antonio Tublen: A Zombie Apocalypse for a Dying Marriage

Short Summary: Rekindling Love Amidst the Undead Antonio Tublen's Zoo is a darkly comedic and surprisingly poignant horror-drama that traps a couple on the brink of divorce, Karen and John, in their high-rise apartment as a zombie apocalypse engulfs London. Forced into close quarters, they navigate not only the threat outside but also the festering wounds of their failing marriage. As they try to rekindle their lost passion amidst the chaos, the film uses the zombie outbreak as a catalyst to explore the complexities of their relationship, blending horror, comedy, and drama into a unique and ultimately heartbreaking story about love, loss, and survival.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7624934/

Link Review: https://movieburnerentertainment.org/2019/12/14/zoo-review-2/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/zoo-2019 (US), https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/zoo-2019 (Australia), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/zoo-2019 (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/zoo-2019 (UK), https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/Zoo-2019 (Germany), https://www.justwatch.com/nl/movie/zoo-2019 (Netherlands)

Detailed Summary: When the Apocalypse is Easier Than Marriage Zoo opens by presenting Karen (Zoë Tapper) and John (Ed Speleers), a couple whose marriage has fallen apart after the tragic miscarriage of their child. They live in the same apartment in London but are emotionally estranged, their routine dull and their interactions strained.

• Their miserable existence is abruptly shattered when a global zombie pandemic breaks out, forcing them to shelter in place in their swanky top-floor apartment.

• With the world outside collapsing, they decide to try and salvage their relationship. The shared peril and isolation, along with a hidden stash of illicit substances Karen reveals, paradoxically bring them closer.

• The film then delves into their past and present, exploring their individual personalities and how the apocalypse surprisingly allows them to rediscover each other. Karen proves to be unexpectedly resourceful and "spicy," while John slowly comes out of his shell.

• The claustrophobic setting of their apartment building serves as a backdrop for both their rekindled romance and the external zombie threat.

• The dynamic shifts again when another couple, survivors from outside, manages to find refuge in their apartment. This new interaction creates both tension and comedic moments as Karen and John fumble through the situation.

• As hope for rescue dwindles, the film transitions from dark comedy to a more tragic and intense second half, leading to a polarizing and often criticized ending that many viewers found unsatisfying.

Plot Summary: From Domestic Misery to Undead Mayhem and Back Again

• A Marriage in Shambles: Karen and John are a couple whose relationship is severely strained after a past tragedy, living together but emotionally distant and on the verge of divorce.

• Apocalypse Strikes London: A sudden and widespread zombie outbreak hits London, trapping them in their high-rise apartment building.

• Forced Proximity and Rekindling: With no escape, they are forced to confront their issues. The extreme circumstances, along with Karen's hidden secrets (including a stash of drugs), unexpectedly lead them to communicate and reconnect.

• Survival and External Threats: They must contend with the zombies outside and eventually, other survivors who breach their sanctuary, creating new tensions and dangers.

• The Test of Love: As the situation becomes more desperate, their rediscovered bond is put to the ultimate test. The film explores whether their love can truly survive the apocalypse, both literally and figuratively.

• Controversial Resolution: The story builds to an emotional climax, culminating in an ending that generated strong reactions, often polarizing audiences due to its perceived abruptness or lack of closure.

Director's Vision: Relationships Under Pressure, with a Side of Gore

• Genre Blending: Antonio Tublen, a Swedish filmmaker, aimed to create a unique blend of relationship drama, dark comedy, and zombie horror. He's known for incorporating quirky and often unsettling elements into his films (LFO, Robin).

• Focus on Internal Conflict: The primary focus is less on the zombie apocalypse itself and more on how the extreme circumstances force a couple to confront their personal demons and the crumbling state of their marriage. The zombies are a catalyst for the internal drama.

• One-Location Intensity: By largely confining the action to one apartment, Tublen creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that heightens the tension, both from the external threat and the internal struggles of the characters.

• Dark Humor and Relatable Pain: Tublen infuses the grim scenario with black humor, but also strives for realistic portrayals of emotional pain and the complexities of a failing relationship.

• Exploring Human Nature: The film examines how people react under extreme pressure, revealing hidden strengths, weaknesses, and unexpected facets of their personalities.

Themes: Relationship Decay, Survival, Isolation, and Second Chances

• Relationship Decay and Revival: The core theme is the disintegration of Karen and John's marriage and their attempt to repair it amidst an unprecedented crisis. The apocalypse becomes a metaphor for the destruction of their personal world.

• Survival (Physical and Emotional): Beyond just surviving the zombies, the characters are fighting for the survival of their relationship and their individual emotional well-being.

• Isolation and Claustrophobia: The apartment setting emphasizes themes of isolation from the outside world and the psychological toll of being confined with a person with whom you have a fraught history.

• The Human Condition Under Pressure: The film explores how extreme circumstances strip away societal norms and force individuals to confront their true selves and their most primal instincts.

• Hope and Despair: The narrative oscillates between moments of rekindled hope for the couple and the encroaching despair brought by the relentless apocalypse.

Key Success Factors: Strong Lead Performances, Unique Concept, and Atmospheric Setting

• Compelling Lead Chemistry: Zoë Tapper and Ed Speleers deliver strong performances as Karen and John, showcasing believable chemistry and effectively conveying the emotional depth of their troubled relationship.

• Original Premise within a Familiar Genre: The film's primary strength lies in its novel approach to the zombie genre, using the apocalypse as a backdrop for a nuanced relationship drama.

• Effective Single-Location Filming: The confined apartment setting is utilized effectively to create tension and focus the narrative tightly on the central couple.

• Balanced Tone: Despite some critics noting "tonal shifts," the film generally manages to balance its horror, comedic, and dramatic elements in a way that keeps the audience engaged.

• Darkly Humorous Script: The dialogue and situations often lean into black comedy, providing levity amidst the grim circumstances.

Critics Reception: A Bold but Flawed Genre Hybrid

• Wicked Horror: This review highly praises the film as a "compelling and dark love story," highlighting the "excellently written characters who have fantastic onscreen chemistry." They found their relationship believable and their pain visceral, making them charismatic and funny. However, the reviewer strongly criticized the ending, calling it "unsatisfying, disappointing," and "cheesy," which "cheapens everything that came before it."

• Movie-Blogger.com: This review acknowledges Zoo as a "quirky attempt that tries to give an original twist to a well-known theme" by mixing comedy, drama, and horror. It states that "the horror part is gently slumbering in the background" and that the film's strength lies in its focus on the human drama and dark humor, particularly the "comical side" when neighbors appear. The reviewer found the first part "engaging and moving" and the second part "more tragic and fairly intense."

• Metacritic: While the Metacritic page for "Zoo" (2018) primarily lists reviews for a different documentary film with the same title, the general critical sentiment for Antonio Tublen's Zoo from other sources indicates a mixed to positive reception. Reviewers often appreciate its unique concept and lead performances but are divided on the execution of its darker elements and particularly its ending.

• Overall Summary: Zoo is seen as an ambitious and unconventional take on the zombie apocalypse, praised for its focus on character development and its blend of genres. Critics largely commend the performances of Zoë Tapper and Ed Speleers and the film's ability to explore a relationship under extreme duress. However, the film's tone shifts and particularly its ending, which many found unsatisfactory or cheap, proved to be a divisive point. It's often described as an "undemanding" yet "enjoyable" B-movie that successfully blends its various elements, despite some flaws.

Reviews: Relationship Drama in a Zombie World

• BIFFF (Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival): Describes the film as an "entertaining, darkly funny cross between a zombie flick and a relationship drama," emphasizing the couple's attempt to "rekindle the embers of their erstwhile passion" amidst the pandemic. They note Tublen's previous positive reception at the festival.

• Joe's Horror Reviews (Death Do Us Part // Zoo): This review, while generally underwhelmed, acknowledges the film's premise as "romantic and violent and zombie-filled." It suggests the core idea sounded good but the execution didn't fully deliver for the reviewer.

• Overall Summary: Reviews consistently highlight Zoo's unique premise of focusing on a decaying marriage during a zombie apocalypse. The film is often praised for its attempt to blend horror with romantic drama and dark comedy, offering a more character-driven experience than typical zombie fare. While some found the execution flawed, the overall consensus is that it's an interesting and distinct entry in the genre.

Why to watch this movie: A Fresh Take on the Apocalypse

• Unique Zombie Subgenre: If you're tired of conventional zombie films, Zoo offers a refreshing and intimate take, using the apocalypse as a backdrop for a compelling human drama.

• Character-Driven Narrative: The film prioritizes the emotional journey of its lead characters, making their struggles and eventual reconciliation (or lack thereof) the central focus.

• Dark Comedy Elements: It's not just horror; the film incorporates genuine dark humor that provides levity and makes the dire situation surprisingly entertaining.

• Strong Lead Performances: Zoë Tapper and Ed Speleers deliver convincing portrayals of a couple navigating marital strife alongside a global catastrophe.

• Claustrophobic Tension: The single-location setting enhances the feeling of being trapped, both by the zombies and by the confines of their relationship.

Movie Trend: The "Relationship Apocalypse" Film Zoo strongly follows the trend of the "relationship apocalypse" film, a subgenre where a catastrophic event (like a zombie outbreak, alien invasion, or natural disaster) serves as the primary catalyst for a couple or family to confront their pre-existing interpersonal issues. Rather than focusing solely on the external threat, these films use the high-stakes environment to test, expose, or sometimes heal strained relationships. Examples include It Comes at Night, The Rover, or even comedic takes like This Is the End.

Social Trend: Marital Strain and Isolation in Modern Life The film taps into the social trend reflecting marital strain and isolation in modern, urbanized life, which is then exacerbated by extreme circumstances. Before the apocalypse, Karen and John represent a common issue: couples living together but emotionally disconnected due to routine, unresolved grief, and lack of communication. The forced isolation and life-threatening situation of the zombie outbreak act as a magnified mirror, forcing them to address the emotional distance that already existed. This resonates with anxieties about relationship health and the impact of external pressures on personal lives.

Final Verdict: An Imperfectly Charming and Thought-Provoking Zombie Rom-Com-Drama Antonio Tublen's Zoo is not your typical zombie movie. It's a bold and often surprising blend of horror, dark comedy, and relationship drama that dares to put the emotional struggle of a failing marriage front and center. While its ending proved divisive for many, the compelling performances from Zoë Tapper and Ed Speleers, coupled with Tublen's unique vision, make it a fascinating and ultimately poignant exploration of love, survival, and the human capacity for reconnection, even when the world outside is literally falling apart. It's a film that bravely deviates from genre norms and offers a memorable, if imperfect, cinematic experience.