Review: Rising Up
Z is for America!
The very best of any zombie movie has a little deeper meaning than just “corpses eating people.” That’s all because the father of the modern zombie movie, George A. Romero, used the zombie theme as a means of social commentary. Though a shallow monster itself, the zombie is a reflection of humanity’s dark side.
*Rising Up: The Story of the Zombie Rights Movement *
is a mockumentary that takes this notion to the extreme, and with harious results. It plays itself straight, as a documentary that might air on History Channel or PBS, and with a narrator (Phil LaMarr) not unlike Morgan Freeman. It chronicles the “zombie rights movement” of the 50s and 60s, paralleling the social movements of beatniks, hippies and war protesters, in an alternate universe where zombies have always existed (but not with apocalyptic results). It really strives to be as authentic as possible, complete with black and white photographs, grainy historic footage, and many different talking heads (from experts to activists to politicians), who are only slightly exaggerated characterizations. This all comes across so straight-faced — even when you’re obviously meant to laugh — that you begin (or at least this viewer did) to wonder just how you personally would react in such tumultuous political times: would you join in on the activism, or let it all happen around you? Were zombies oppressed? Are they pepole?
Though that is not the point of this 30 minute film. It wants to make you laugh, and it accomplishes that in every way it tried. It takes social commentary, albeit mocking, and ramps it up a notch to a level of subtle absurdity that I think would make Mr. Romero proud. As far as mockumentaries go, I think it’s right up there with *This is Spinal Tap*, and as far as zom-coms go, it’s right up there with *Shaun of the Dead*. Its length is perfect, its timing is impeccable, the make-up is well done, and it uses zombies for social commentary. *Dawn of the Dead* should give *Rising Up* a high-five.
I give it 10 out of 10 protest signs and urge any zombie fan to check it out. You can get *Rising Up: The Story of the Zombie Rights Movement* at http://www.risingupmovie.com, for ten bucks (with plenty of special features), where you can also view the trailer, see photos and the like. I leave you with these immortal words of Chocolate Chip the Zombie: “I hate the daytime moon.”
