Who doesn’t like some action in their horror movies? It’s common to find that extra oomph in zombie films because obviously guns and explosions are needed to battle the legions of the undead. But, The Rizen takes the action-horror subgenre to a whole other level in the most invigorating way since 2016’s The Horde. This one’s got balls to the walls, bloody knuckled dragouts that’ll keep you on your toes from start to finish. Shot under Goldfinch Entertainment and Lost Eye Films, The Rizen follows the Arms Race in 1955, when NATO and the Allied Forces start conducting secret, unethical experiments on humans. They finally succeed in their endeavors, only to unleash a blood thirsty evil that threatens to tear the world apart. Now, it’s up to one woman and a small group of survivors, trapped in a bunker, to fend off ravenous creatures that try to kill them at every turn and bring about the apocalypse. Executively produced by Clare Pearce, Kirsty Bell and Martin Myers, The Rizen stars Laura Swift, Patrick Knowles, Christopher Tajah, Tom Goodman-Hill, Jason Benovichi-Dicken, Simeon Willis, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Bruce Payne, Adrian Edmondson and Sally Phillips.
The Rizen is written and directed by Matt Mitchell, with cinematographer Jamie Burr and production designer Lucy Gahagan. Examining The Rizen as a production, I have to say I was skeptical about its overall value at first; not knowing if it was going to live up to the hype built by Uncork’d Entertainment and a one-sheet that looks like a mash-up of Day of the Dead and Silent Hill… which is actually a pretty accurate way to describe this movie. It ended up being equal parts action and horror, thrilling and creepy. With character dramas, inner traumas, and Resident Evil: Extinction styled zombies attacking throughout the entire picture, there isn’t too much for me to harp on in terms of story content. It’s constantly revolving and evolving. However, there are a couple surprise twists – one that didn’t play out well, in my opinion. Sometimes, simplicity is key. Look how successful Halloween and The Blair Witch Project were without showcasing their Big Bad throughout most of the movie. The last twist here falls flat because of over-exposing the villain and having them speak through subtitles. It just didn’t fit in the atmosphere that Matt Mitchell built. But, since I’m such a fan of strong women leading the revolt against evil, I’m going to let it slide. You’ve been warned, potential viewers.
I didn’t think I was going to be a fan of the time-line, either, but The Rizen jumped that hurdle by attempting and succeeding in creating a film that took risks in terms of continuity. This movie felt like a real post-WWII adventure, shot on a modern camera, of course. The clothes, the array of views, the historical aspects, weapons, the location… It was all very cohesive and I appreciate the extra measures in making The Rizen an action-horror flick with accuracy and 1950’s appeal. It felt very European. The bunker was the perfect venue for this man vs. the apocalypse story, and I felt like Hitler could come walking out at any moment – potentially as a zombie-thing. However, the tunnels and tight rooms made room for echoes, and there were several scenes where I felt the audio could’ve been a little better. This was a big production, and that error should’ve been avoided with the crew being as talented as they are. The camera quality was also a little too hazy at times, so I have to subtract points because of that, too. I realize that this contrast is running wild through my review. Whenever I have something positive to say, I follow it up with something negative. So, how do I grade a strong film with a few bumps in the road?
I’m going to lean in the direction of positivity. There are certainly more enjoyable elements to this movie that more than make up for production errors and my personal views on style. The Rizen has fantastic performances and an incredible lead with Laura Swift. She was tough, determined and calculated. And she really knows how to take a punch! The action is constant, a nail-biting onslaught filled with gore and expert choreography. This film is also very mysterious, and the viewer is forced to go on this claustrophobic, unpredictable journey with rogue worker Frances. What’s going on? Why? Will she get out? She’s fighting for more than her survival. She’s fighting for yours, too. Luckily, this subgenre of film has a built in audience. I can think of a dozen European (ok, Nazi) zombie movies that have come out in recent years, and why they may not be full fledged zombies, the beings in The Rizen are some of the best undead attackers in this category. If you enjoyed Zombie Lake and Dead Snow, then you’re going to love The Rizen. Maybe just do yourself a favor and fast forward through the last 15 minutes.
Final Score: 6 out of 10.
