'Festival of the Living Dead' (2024) Reaction
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you put the Soska twins at the helm of a zombie film, you now have your answer, and the results are just as fun as you'd expect
To be completely honest, zombie films have never been a preferred subgenre for me, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. Everybody loves Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Zombieland (2009), and even some independent productions like It Stains the Sands Red (2016) are able to leave enough of an impression. However, nothing’s better than George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead franchise, consisting of masterpieces like the original 1968 Night of the Living Dead and stellar sequels Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985). Almost six decades since the start of the series, the legacy of the films has stood as a testament to the ingenuity and imaginative creativity of independent cinema.
That being said, there’s probably no better group of filmmakers to take on a Living Dead film than Jen and Sylvia Soska — the twin sisters have been beloved contributors to the independent horror circuit since their directorial debut, 2009’s Dead Hooker in a Trunk. Additionally, they’ve shown how well they’re able to contribute and put their own spin on already-established properties with their incredible remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid (1977), so when the news came out that the Twisted Twins would be bringing a new Living Dead movie to the franchise, I had nothing but faith that they’d knock it out of the park.
Festival of the Living Dead takes place 55 years after the events of the original Night of the Living Dead, with the film’s logline stating, “While attending a festival to commemorate the original zombie attack, Ash and her friends encounter the living dead and must fight back or be devoured.” Right off the bat, the opening credits show how seriously the filmmakers take the original film and how faithful they intend to be with their production, mixing footage from the original with archival footage from various music festivals, among other footage selections. The punk music playing during the opening is another nice touch as well, further feeding into the indie/DIY attitude of the franchise.
The cast of this film is a strong one, featuring many genre contributors that you may recognize from other movies and television series — just a few examples include Ashley Moore from the 2021 I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series taking on the lead role of Ash in this film, along with Camren Bicondova from Gotham in the role of Ash’s best friend Iris, Andre Anthony from Scream VI (2023) as another one of Ash’s friends, and of course, the inimitable Troy James from The Strain, Rabid, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019), the What We Do in the Shadows TV series, etc., doing an incredible job as Jamie, one of the freakiest zombies in the entire movie. Seeing such an eclectic ensemble together in one film is a treat, especially since we get to see how they interact with each other and feed off of each other’s abilities.
One of the shining stars of the film, however, is Shiloh O’Reilly, who plays Ash’s younger brother, Luke. For such a young actor, I was very impressed with his acting chops, particularly towards the second half of the film. Of course, he does well in the beginning of the film, but it’s really the ending where the viewer feels the most invested in what he does and how he feels amidst all the zombie chaos. Having had small roles in Thanksgiving (2023) and the What We Do in the Shadows series before this, I seriously hope that Festival of the Living Dead ends up opening more doors for him to star in more horror films as his career continues, because he has a ton of potential and it would be great to see him become a mainstay of the genre.
One of the best things about Festival of the Living Dead is the DIY feel that it has in many areas — the cinematography, the music, the effects, everything about this film feels like an independent production, and given the history of the franchise and what it’s meant for aspiring filmmakers and the independent community as a whole, the significance of retaining this level of aesthetic value with a new film is immeasurable. It helps make the film feel more faithful to the original and its legacy, and personally, I think that’s one of the best moves the film made — if there was to be a new Living Dead film with a huge budget and super slick production value, it honestly wouldn’t feel right, because an independent look and feel is just that much more natural for the franchise.
Like I said earlier, zombie movies aren’t my favorite horror subgenre, but I’m able to find a few exceptions, and I’m happy to say that the Soska sisters and their crew added another one in Festival of the Living Dead. As a respectful addition to George Romero’s iconic Living Dead franchise, Festival is a fun ride with a few fun twists and turns. While it may feel a little slow at first, it hits the ground running at the halfway point and doesn’t let up until the ending credits begin rolling. Whether you’re a zombie fan or not, the movie’s a fun watch and I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a fun new release.
To watch Festival of the Living Dead, click here.
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