Clash of the Dead (2015) User Reviews

Dreadful

[arfdawg-1 · 2/10 · 7 May 2015]

The Plot. Yet another found footage movie this time about lost WW2 soldiers who turn out to be zombies.

Oh boy.

Everything about it stinks. Even the fake camera glitches. It sucks.

77 minutes long and it feels like you've been watching for 36 hours.

It's formulaic and predictable. It goes on and on and nothing happens.

There director's idea of action is having the actors pretend they are out of breath.

Midway into this movie they go underground and it's so dark you cant see a thing.

OMG, it's so horrible.

Just another run-of-the-mill zombie soldier movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 13 November 2018]

I happened to stumble upon "World War Dead: Rise of the Fallen" by sheer luck. And being the zombie fan that I am, of course I picked up the movie to watch without hesitation.

But, as most zombie movies go, "World War Dead: Rise of the Fallen" turned out to be another generic zombie movie. Zombie soldiers doesn't hardly seem all that interesting anymore. And shifting the focus from the Nazis of World War II to soldiers from World War I hardly made much of a difference.

This whole movie was essentially one big plot hole. There were so many things throughout the movie that made little sense. For example, the lanterns still had petroleum in them even after almost 100 years of being unattended to, the zombie soldiers had managed to remain hidden in the area for almost 100 years, and the mine field had persisted for 100 years as well. Sure, very realistic. Which then takes me to the zombies. While they looked decent enough and were more than just guys with their faces painted grey, then it was really difficult to take them as serious ravenous undead with that laughable sound they made.

The acting in the movie was adequate, though it was painstakingly clear that the performers were struggling and suffering from having a script that could essentially be boiled down to a single page.

The thing that bothered me the most in "World War Dead: Rise of the Fallen" was the hand-held camera views. That just does absolutely nothing for me. It doesn't add to a sense of it being realistic or that you are feeling like you are there yourself. No. All it does it irritate me because I paid money for the movie, I invest time to sit down and watch it, and I am rewarded with shoddy camera work that I could do myself with my DV camera.

"World War Dead: Rise of the Fallen" is not a particular noteworthy or memorable addition to the zombie collection. I managed to endure it to the very end, but I can in all honesty say that I am not returning to watch it a second time.

Weak all around

[rushknight · 2/10 · 4 June 2015]

Found footage features depend on one thing above all: believability. Almost every found footage movie begins by giving you some indication that the footage was discovered and "compiled" by authorities, then later leaked to the general masses. In short, it's a documentary. This illusion is generally effective when dealing with anything possible (floods, natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, serial killers), but becomes weak and convoluted when faced with anything improbable (zombies, vampires, ghosts).

As this is a zombie feature, believability is already at stake. The initial implication that this is "real" immediately makes no impression. It comes off as merely routine.

Shortly after, other factors follow that contribute nothing to believability, and yet continue to be standards in found footage movie making:

1. Too many camera angles to be possible for one camera.

2. Sound is too consistent as the scenes jumps back and forth between angles. An impossibility for one camera.

3. Lighting is too good to be real. It's clearly studio work.

4. The camera continually falls into the perfect position for filming, even though no one is thinking about it or even using it.

5. The fact that the camera is still on!

6. There's even a scene where the camera itself is videoed! Are you kidding me? Really???

7. All the digitally induced fuzz doesn't even look remotely real, or even have a reason for happening.

8. There's a soundtrack. Nice of the authorities to put that in so that viewers of their documentary will be more interested.

Then there's the acting, and the plot.. I'll just sum it all up with "It's unconvincing."

All of these little pieces simply do not add up, instead the movie suffers from the greatest weakness a movie can suffer from: It was boring.

Oh, and it finishes with some grinding electric guitar music, which is the only true constant in zombie films.

My review

[richardhoughton · 4/10 · 18 May 2015]

The person who watched this obviously hates or dislikes found footage horrors as he tore this movie apart. Its not that bad. it was watchable, not the best movie ever but the guy who wrote his review said nothing happens and boring. Things do happen, they have zombies that attack the characters and there is some blood yes. I watched it and didn't mind it, although i have seen worse movies. the tunnels part? the reviewer said its so dark you cannot see? the characters had lights and torches so what is he complaining about? you can see what they are doing?

I give this movie a 4.6 out of 10, it was watchable and characters were OK, i liked the lead reporter lady she did a good job at presenting, i may get people saying, this movie was bad, but this is my opinion which everyone is entitled to.

worth watching!

High school film project

[David Igra · 3/10 · 16 May 2015]

Had it been a production of a group of high school kids it would've been perceived as funny and rather a successful first attempt of movie making. But being as this project actually has some established actors in it, one can only marvel at how that came about to be.

The film makes good use of many old tricks and methods in order to scare the viewer without actually showing much of anything. When done properly it can work, however in this case it's just sad and shows clearly how the film budget must've been no more than a couple of thousand euros.

The film is just terrible.

Pathetic attempt and an insult to the war dead

[FountainPen · 1/10 · 1 November 2017]

How many "movies" such as this have been produced and put on the market? As I work my way through several hundred DVDs bought in bulk lots on eBay at bargain-basement prices, I have come across many fine motion pictures, plus a relatively high percentage of abortions such as this crud.

It appears to have been made by a group of high school kids who have an idea they are cinematographers. Nope, they aren't, and never will be.

The concept for the film is reasonable, but the acting, scripting, direction, and everything else are lousy, painful to watch. On the plus side, the film is shot in focus.

I suppose once the group are heavily into production, they figure they've reached the point of no return, so might as well finish it and try to recover some of the money spent on the drivel.

Sorry to sound so "sour grapes", but I am. I resent "movies" which are touted as being of value but turn out to be real stinkers. Did I mention moronic dialogue and pitiable characters? Yes, they're included in this movie-going experience. Maybe, if the target audience is pre-teenagers, the flick is well-aimed. NOT RECOMMENDED! Rated 1/10 because IMDb don't permit a zero out of ten. Thank you for reading my complaint. #

Somme-thing you can miss

[nogodnomasters · 3/10 · 12 November 2017]

"World War Dead - Rise Of The Fallen" and "Clash of the Dead" are the same film. This is a found footage zombie film. A documentary crew with internal conflict are filming at Somme and talking about the battle with Dr. Brian Locke (Robert Bladen) an egotist expert. The discussion wanders off to a curse of the undead and an amulet found on an Rhodesian soldier. The next thing you know, zombies, which were not as well made up as the picture on the cover. We have the run at night cam, ground cam, and screaming while jerky the camera scare.

The film started out as it might be interesting, but the actors were not convincing and the dialogue fell a little short. What I didn't understand was how the mining helmet lights still worked after 100 years. I want one of those batteries.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity

Extremely boring

[borgolarici · 3/10 · 14 April 2022]

Boring and pointless. Really, there's not much one could say about this movie. You shouldn't watch in unless you're really, really looking for a horror movie than even barely mentions WWI.

What Did I just watch

[Kobe_bryant_reviews · 8/10 · 5 November 2018]

I literally don't know what I just watched becasuse it was very dark. Other than that I think this movie was very good, the storyline was typical horror movie and the feud between the characters very realistic. Also I didn't know there were zombies at the Somme that's scary!

Good not great

[atomiccomandant · 6/10 · 24 February 2019]

Its obvious most other reviewers arent familiar with fiction. It is a movie about WWI zombies if you were looking for realism then thats your problem and why you wont like most films.

Having said that, this was an ok found footage movie. Nothing new or innovative but perfectly serviceable. The acting is on par with what you would expect from this type of movie decent performances at best. pretty tame zombie effects and gore. The character of the director marcus was terrible and found myself annoyed by almost all of his dialogue and interactions with every other character, but that seems to be the fault of the writing.

So final word is, if you enjoy found footage type films give it a whirl but if not you probably wont find anything enjoyable here. Personally I love the Genre and thought it was middle of the road quality.

{The Star Wars™ of WWI Horrors} ™

[theacornman · 8/10 · 5 November 2018]

This masterpiece changed my career path. I went from working 9 to 5 at McDonald's to my new dream job of hunting zombies. I've always been fond of WWI, after the stories my great grandfather told, its been a major part of my lyfe. In particular this film inspired my bloodlust craze for brains. Much the same way as Order 66 in Star Wars: Revenge of the South Park Episode III™ A Star Wars Story™ bought about my hatred for Jedi. I especially enjoyed not being able to see anything for a solid half hour. Putting me into the shoes of the 2D characters in this film. Would recommend to any avid Star Wars™ fan? It should be Canon. I rate 2^0.5/8^1/3

Spoilers follow ...

[parry_na · 6/10 · 20 June 2016]

A troupe of highly argumentative film-makers travel to the Somme to record a documentary. Their internal disagreements are interrupted by figures in the distance that suddenly disappear. Similar events occur within and around 'Devil's Wood', scene of one of the most central WW1 Somme battles.

Professor Brian Lock's (Robert Bladon) facts are subject to 'artistic embellishment' by a clearly underwhelmed Marcus (Ray Panthaki), who is trying to spice up his documentary. Although his arrogance is legendary among his fellows, it's easy to sympathise with Marcus' point of view. Very little actually happens for a long time, but he decayed cadaver of a Rhodesian soldier dragged from a misty river threatens to liven things up, especially as he appears to have swallowed a black magic amulet – it's apparent power involves bringing the dead back to life.

For a found footage film, there aren't many attempts to keep it strictly realistic; too many camera angles for the available equipment to actually record, and the addition of evocative ambient incidental music at crucial moments (music that isn't interrupted by the constant – and annoying – times when the camera breaks up and crackles in the way of this style of film-making). That's not a particular problem for me: we know this isn't an actual documentary; the days when an audience wondered if a found footage film was a drama or real life ended with 'The Blair Witch Project' sixteen years earlier.

Of the characters, Marcus is perhaps the best defined. He does his best to be irritating, but is very well played and emerges being strangely likable long before his elevation to apologetic hero towards the end.

This isn't the greatest film of its kind, but it features a good cast and an excellent location. The fusion of World War and zombies continues apace, with once again bunkers and trenches and murky fields providing an excellent backdrop for the activities of the living dead.

Social commentary, satire and a dark vein of humour run through this very British Horror Film. .

[Pairic · 7/10 · 14 July 2019]

World War Dead: Rise Of The Fallen: Found footage Zombie film. A film crew go to the Somme Battlefield intent on making a film about army units which disappeared during the Battle. Tension between the presenter and the historian are exacerbated by an ego-maniacal director. Figures appear on the horizon, a local tries to warn them about le supernatural. The historian relates a legend about a German regiment who were cursed and turned into the undead. They all have a chuckle at this, but subsequently find the remains of a Rhodesian soldier with an African Black Magic Amulet..

Then the Zombies attack. But the crazed director wants to continue with the documemtary. Attacks (at night) in a field enclosed by woods and underground trench tunnels add to a claustrophobic atmosphere.

Social commentary, satire and a dark vein of humour run through this very British Horror Film. IMDb average only give it 3.2 but on my Z-Meter it gets 6.5/10.