The Walking Dead DVD Blu-ray Review
The Walking Dead DVD Blu-ray Review
Produced by Frank Darabont. Starring Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Noah Emmerich.
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Zombies have never been my favorite monster, nor my favorite metaphor, so it was with hesitation that I stepped into The Walking Dead Season One DVD. Even so, it had a lot to recommend it — mostly the fact it's an AMC series (and I'm a huge fan of their original programming).
The Walking Dead is based on a series of comics written by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Tony Moore (and, later, Charlie Adlard), and caught the attention of director Frank Darabont some years ago. When the chance came along to do a miniseries, he took it — so, it's the 90-minute pilot, Days Gone By, that's his contribution. It's a strong beginning, which introduces us to the central characters. (Other directors include Dexter's Ernest R. Dickerson and Guy Ferland, who's done some great work on The Shield, Southland, and Rubicon.)
Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is our hero, a deputy sheriff who is shot in the line of duty and goes into a coma. When he awakens, he finds the world a much-changed place — overrun with zombies, and his Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs) missing. Rick's partner, Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), is still alive, but the two don't reconnect until later, and when they do… there is trouble.
Rick's entirely on his own at first, but is brought up to speed by a neighbor, Morgan (Lennie James), who explains that the dead are eating the living and the only way to stop them is to "aim for the head" (ala George R. Romero). The zombies will surely delight the Legend's fans, as they're created by his (fairly recent) collaborator, Greg Nicotero of KNB/FX. While the cast is a pretty huge ensemble, don't expect any zombie "character development" — they're all just mindless monsters.
Most of the tales are heavy on exposition, which is fine, fitting, and expected for an AMC series — but it just doesn't quite fit as either a zombie horror show, or a dramatic exploration of the human condition. It drags quite a bit, yet it's engrossing in a strange, hypnotic way. It reminded me more of The Road than, say, Survival of the Dead. But with only six episodes, it's not a bad way to spend a quiet, rainy day (and, Andrew Lincoln is fantastic in it).
When it comes to the extras, there's a half-hour making-of doc featuring Darabont and the principal cast and some of the crew members to recount their experiences and impressions. There are also several short featurettes, some only 5 minutes in duration (like one with Kirkman, and one on the practical makeup effects). There's also a look back at the first unveiling of the series at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, as well as a look "Inside Dale's RV".
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson