Geek Up Your Halloween with Ninjas vs Zombies

I was going to review this DVD in a completely 100% serious manner, but soon realized that I couldn’t. That’s not a slight on the movie itself or those that created and starred in it. It’s just that you can’t review a movie like Ninjas vs Zombies in the same way you would review Inception, Secretariat, or the Social Network. It’s a 100% grade B home made indie production, built from the ground up by a group of friends and colleagues in Maryland/DC who apparently subsist on layered pop culture references and pithy profanity-laden zingers like so much Maryland Blue Crab meat. They wear their influences on their sleeves, and throughout the film, to the point where the characters have to call themselves on it (more than once).

Ninjas vs Zombies is about a group of average shlubs who are visited by a recently deceased friend. The problem is that this friend isn’t too happy about being “alive” and starts making zombies of the local townfolk. And it appears only these shlubs can stop him. (Seriously, none of these guys are depicted as leading man matinee idol studs, but that’s their appeal and, I think, the creators’ intent when they made this movie. The target audience for this film is exactly the same type of guys you’re seeing on screen.) Anyway, these guys are granted the power of the ninja to combat the ravenous undead horde, but not all of them survive the battle. It’s a fun concept and plays out as you might expect, with lots of comedy bits peppered throughout the sword-wielding action and blood-dripping horror.

Of course, you’re not going to watch this movie for any deep emotional underpinnings, consistently solid line delivery, or a clear understanding of some sort of mythological back story (your girlfriend didn’t rent this). You’re going to watch this because it’s got Ninjas fighting Zombies and it’s probably the movie you and your friends wished you could have made if only you had the time, money, and attention span to bring something this complex to life. Oh, and friends able to deliver a line without cracking up (which means you’d have to be sober, and that, your friends, are often not). My only criticisms are that it seemed a little long and that it took way too long to establish the Ninja part of the story. But when that part finally came together, I enjoyed it the most (I’d say why, but it could be too spoilery). I have a feeling that the pacing and length issue would have been solved if it had been a series of shorts, but that’s just me. I’m discovering that I’m much more of a serialized television fan these days than a high concept movie-lover (big meaty bites over endless courses of story). Things I loved most: the surprisingly good special effects (especially the magic effects) and the jokes, when delivered well, were actually funny; not “aww that’s cute for an indie film” kind of funny. Honorable mentions: hot girls and the Wilhelm Scream.

If you’re a fan of self-aware comedy from the likes of Kevin Smith and horror comedy in the realm of Army of Darkness and Shaun of the Dead, you’ll get a kick out of Ninjas vs Zombies. It’s a wish fulfillment fantasy where you and your friends get to dress up, splatter yourself with blood and hack away (and shoot) at your other friends dressed as zombies. These guys (and gals) did just that and put it on film (well, digital video) for you to enjoy. It looks like they had a lot of fun doing it (honestly, if you’re going to put yourself through the paces of making a movie, you better at least LOOK LIKE you enjoyed doing it… unless it’s something like Human Centipede).

If you’re looking for horror this Halloween that’s more fun than scary, stay home (avoiding a potential DUI), invite over some geeky friends, get wasted, and watch Ninjas vs Zombies. I believe it’s available at all major retailers and online through Netflix. And it looks like they’re already wrapping up a follow up called Ninjas vs Vampires, coming in 2011.

XXG2HZGSBWCE