by Jeremy Eaton

Created on: December 29, 2009

Welcome to the United States of Zombieland where, in this post-apocalyptic scenario, following the rules is the difference between being a survivor or being dinner. By rules, I mean the no less than 32 rules to live by from maintaining good cardio to mastering the double tap.

Since Night of the Living Dead, zombie horror films have saturated the industry with mostly futile attempts to match the legendary classics's fright. These flesh craving atrocities have evolved from undead brain munchers to virus infected, primal man eaters that will chase you down at a full sprint. The current incarnation, frightful as it may be, has been done over and over. Each time more boringly horrifying than the last. Eventually the formula has to change.

Simon Pegg and Edward Wright made horror comedy gold with Shaun of the Dead. Adding a comedic element to a horror film can make for a refreshing change to a genre plagued by repetitiveness. That's what you get with Zombieland, The film, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick injects new life into a seemingly dead franchise as if creating a zombie themselves. This one is hungry and, due to superb direction by Ruben Fleischer, aims to kill.

The film starts with the jittery and awkward college student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), named for his destination, making his way from Austin, TX to his parent's house in Ohio. He is a self described shut-in who prefers Mountain Dew over a socializing and suffers from a sever case of coulrophobia. He yearns for the right girl only to be traumatized as the first one he lets into his life tries to eat him. He contrast well with the more reckless and fearless Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who revels in massacring zombies almost as much as a delicious Twinkies snack.

He prefers to keep out names and instead uses their destinations. The dialogue between the two has it's witty moments and makes for good laughs. The bands rounds itself out after the guys run into Wichita and Little Rock (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) post, a very hands on Tallahassee zombie killing spree. The girls are distrustful cons and opt to constantly outsmart the unsuspecting duo. Eventually rounding out the foursome, they make their way towards Pacific Playland, an amusement park in California rumored to be zombie free. Even the apocalypse pails in comparison to the power of raging hormones as Columbus falls for Wichita during the ride. This ride pleases to the climatic, gory end.

Top notch acting and fun, witty dialogue makes Zombieland a must see. You can tell the actors are having a good time and the chemistry on screen makes the scenes click. Add an ingenious script and a cameo by the always welcome Bill Murray and you have zombie apocalypse that sets itself apart from the rest of the undead subculture.

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