VOD from the Dead - World Ends at Camp Z (2022)
As we seem to be entering the home stretch of a 2+ year pandemic, we are possibly in the very beginning of pandemic-produced horror films. This can mean films that were filmed during the pandemic, films that are thematically centered around the pandemic, and a mixture of the two. While there have been some notable films that have been delayed due to the aforementioned pandemic and now finally getting releases, I venture to guess we are only in the first phases of what kind of horror films used the past two-plus years as a muse for their narrative. It’s too early to say if these will resonate considering just how all-consuming this theme has been for everyone across countries and continents. Nevertheless, I’ve found myself largely ignorant to any releases that leverage pandemic themes to fuel their narrative, and all that has changed with the Canadian-produced pandemic horror film WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z. The question is; is it too soon or just right in our current zeitgeist?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z is set during the pandemic and fixes on a camp owner that learns that the person he is selling the grounds to has evil intentions for the land. In order to stop the sale, he has tricks up his sleeve, but a zombie uprising was never one of them.
Clay tells one helluva story…
HOW IS IT?
Open-minded and marginal expectations are the best way to describe my state of mind heading into my viewing of WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z, and while this indie-horror isn’t breaking new ground it is delivering a better than average example of the zombie genre with a pandemic twist. The story is more about the cast of characters than it is the pandemic, so it was nice that the film didn’t lean too much on that considering how still present and aware it is for everyone. Vanessa (ANNE-CAROLYNE BINETTE) is traveling to a camp to prepare it for the new buyer whom she works with. Julian (DEAN PERSONS) and Clay (OSAWA MUSKWA) are the two associates at the camp when she arrives, and they are not entirely thrilled that the land has been sold. What unfolds is Vanessa and Julian developing a highly-flirtatious relationship which is further complicated by the arrival of the new buyer who may or may not have ulterior motives with the camp. In the backdrop, there is a pandemic raging that may or may not have something to do with residents in this rural area turning into zombies. I share all of this because the majority of the film is about the interpersonal relationships that occur once we have a clashing of worlds. The new buyer brings his rich and rude friends, which is a direct clash to the laidback and simple life of the area around them. In indie-horror it’s always hard to know what kind of quality of actor you can get, and it’s really great to see that everyone in the cast here does a great job of making what could have been a cringe-inducing meshing of worlds is more sincere and authentic than some of its indie peers. While it does have a lot of CW-esque melodramatic plot elements, the three leads who play Vanessa, Julian, and Clay are quite endearing.
The last third of the movie really dials up the horror elements, which are very lightly teased throughout, and when they do it’s when the film shines. The horror elements work quite well, and much of that credit can be given to the technical side of the production by making the most of what they have and editing the action tightly. It’s a shame that the horror elements are a rather limited portion of the 88-minute runtime, and if it weren’t for the believable performances from the cast it would have made this one a bit harder to stay with for the horror bits.
While this was better than your average zombie flick, it also isn’t anything groundbreaking which is its only flaw. And it is hard to do that in the zombie genre since so much has and continues to be done that doesn’t move the genre forward (looking at you TWD). Added to that challenge is producing these on lower budgets in comparison to the aforementioned TV show, so the innovation has to come from the story and presenting the genre in a way that is different within reason. The interpersonal relationships also don’t challenge norms when it comes to some of the dramatic twists and turns which work largely because the cast is so good. For zombie genre fans WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z will keep you entertained, but if you are fatigued on that aspect of horror you may not find much to latch onto here.
Pandemic zombies are hopefully not on the 2022 bingo card…
LAST RITES
WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z is a better-than-average and well-made indie that is anchored by a strong performance from the three leads and supporting cast. While it doesn’t deliver much new to the zombie genre, it delivers all the necessary elements of a solid zombie film.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
WORLD ENDS AT CAMP Z is available now on-demand and digital!
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