Audience Member
Welcome to Apocalypse Z (The Beginning of the End), a Prime Video zombie flick hailing from the shores of Spain. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel—honestly, it barely even puts new rims on it—but what it does, it does just well enough to earn a solid thumbs up. Oh, and it features what might just be the second-best horror cat of 2024. (Your rankings may vary, but this feline is officially on my “ride or die” list.)
The movie kicks off during the early days of a viral outbreak—think a not-so-distant future where things start looking grim real fast. A new variant shows up that spreads like wildfire via bites, and shocker: nobody’s watched a zombie flick before. Governments respond with their usual genius tactics—lockdowns, evacuations, panic—and our protagonist finds himself completely alone. Well, not totally alone.
He’s got his trusty cat sidekick, because every zombie apocalypse needs some emotional support,
preferably with whiskers.
Here’s the twist: for the first half of this nearly two-hour movie, the zombies are more “concept” than “constant threat.” There’s barely a shambling corpse in sight, which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a tease when you came for the undead carnage. Instead, we get to watch our dude navigate his middle-class neighborhood, scavenging food and surviving day-to-day life like it’s an extended episode of Extreme Hoarders: Apocalypse Edition. Honestly? It works. Even without hordes of the infected, watching him hustle to feed himself (and, obviously, his MVP cat) was surprisingly engaging.
When the zombies do show up, they’re the fast kind—infected humans, not your classic undead shamblers. And while they’re not exactly game-changers in the genre, the movie does throw in some fun twists. Our Spanish hero, apparently inspired by Shark Week, suits up in a bite-resistant wetsuit and takes on the undead with a spear gun. That’s right, a freaking spear gun. Because, you know, Spain doesn’t exactly have Glocks at the corner store. It’s a hilariously unique approach and one of the movie’s standout moments.
If you’re hoping for a gorefest, though, this isn’t the film for you. It’s pretty tame on the blood-and-guts front—more like zombie survival light than the Olympics of Flesh Chomping. There’s a body count, sure, but don’t expect the kind of hardcore carnage you’d find in something like Train to Busan.
Plot-wise, the story doesn’t break new ground. It’s the classic “lone survivor meets other humans, some good, some bad” tale.
He fights zombies, navigates tough choices, and does what he can to keep himself (and his furry companion) alive. You’ve seen it before, but hey, it’s well-shot, decently dramatic, and even a little tense in places. It does its job, and sometimes that’s enough.
Of course, because every franchise these days needs a cliffhanger, Apocalypse Z ends with a big ol’ “To Be Continued…” Prepare yourself for Apocalypse Z: The Middle of the End. Or, if we’re lucky, Apocalypse Z: The End of the End. Either way, I’d be up for a sequel, even if it’s just more of the same. After all, I’m already invested in seeing how far this guy and his cat can go. But for the price (Free), I would definitely grab a cold one, or RC Cola and enjoy the catastrophe, Kidding, Had to include that last pun. It's a great film to turn your brain off and enjoy.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/12/25
Full Review
Kirinique S
It’s a fine movie, nothing unique or unexpected, they try to make it feel very contemporary with the references to Covid and lockdown so it definitely feels more realistic. However none of the action is particularly exciting and the cat feels like just a device to give the main character a personality and force empathy. Ending very abrupt that makes it seem like the first episode of a series.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/08/25
Full Review
Linda F
I really liked this movie, I wish they will release a part 2!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/04/25
Full Review
Dale P
The main character is so dumb. He's a Hazzard to be around because he is obsessed with his stupid cat.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
01/02/25
Full Review
Andrzej K
Generic low budget zombie movie. Non likeable and unrealistic main character. Tons of dumb decisons and people in the movie.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
12/26/24
Full Review
J N
I love the filters used in this movie. The first 20 minutes are highly immersive, but after that, there are no standout moments—none at all. I suppose they were attempting to create a "World War Z" vibe for the protagonist, but it didn't work for me. The frequency of zombie appearances is strange; you encounter a large number of them in the woods, yet almost none on the streets. While I'm not a fan of this movie, I am curious about how next story unfolds.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
12/26/24
Full Review
Read all reviews
>
