Black Summer

I am not sure why this is rated lower than I would expect. For those who got sick of too much drama of Walking Dead and cannot bear Z Nation either. Right amount of suspense and action.

Why can't soneone write a zombie apocalypse story where most people are of average intelligence or higher? Instead the writers always seem to think the only way to create tension is to make 95% of the main characters as dumb as a box of hair.

I get it that people panic and make wrong or silly decisions at times, but to never learn to close a door behind you, or to have 6 people mow down a single zombie with about 100 rounds and not one is a headshot, even though they've seen that this won't stop them. I mean COME ON.

I just finished the fourth episode of a series which contains eight. The second half will definitely be without me. I have a strong appetite for zombie movies, with an apocalyptic atmosphere and a mandatory survival instinct, with or without a collaborative mindset. Therefore, I approached this series with an open mind and an ultra-positive a priori. I was probably excessively enthusiastic.

Pros: this series is relatively well filmed with an ominous music and a neat photography that helps to create a scary atmosphere.

Cons: I have the impression that only the worst humans survive in this series. Either they suddenly suffer from Alzheimer's disease (the most disturbing example is with Rose who is a mother who forgets very quickly her 10-year-old daughter, while finding her should be the top priority), either they are as perverse as sadistic (like the grotesque band of little brats, in the school), either they are deeply moronic (a few examples among so many: in the chapter Alone of the 4th episode, a congenital idiot arrives in a library, settles comfortably in a sofa and starts reading a book, whereas it is not really the priority; in the chapter Dog of the 4th episode, the same dumb guy leisurely wanders in a grocery where all the shelves are oddly tidy and stocked, with a closeup on him and the top of his caddy, ... and guess what!... we only see a pack of beer and some Shreddies; in all the episodes I saw, a sexy woman stubbornly persists to speak Korean to everyone as if she did not realize that she is not in Korea; ...). In a general way, because of a crap script, each scene rhymes with mediocrity, unless this series is actually a comedy, but allow me to have some doubts about it. Personally, I can't identify myself to any of these pathetic protagonists. If you succeed, ...well... let's say it's worrying.

Survival horror? Yes, yes and yes!!! This one? No. In the ultra-quantitative cinematographic world in which we live, we have the choice. Thus, there's a plethora of zombie movies: 28 Days Later (2002), Train to Busan (2016), The Walking Dead (2010), World War Z (2013), Dawn of the Dead (2004), I Am Legend (2007), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Zombieland (2009), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Re-Animator (1985), Dead Alive (1992), REC (2007), Dead Snow (2009), One Cut of the Dead (2017), ... So, you may avoid wasting time with this series: skip it without remorse.

Don't let the bad reviews put you off, this is a decent zombie watch! I was entertained throughout and it left me wanting a second season for sure.

It follows a group of strangers through the beginnings of a zombie apocolypse, their individual stories, interactions and ultimately connected stories.

Like many reviewers before stated - the production is good, the acting too, and it got some really suspenseful moments, but, and this is almost pretty standard these days, the behavior of the people is sometimes too stupid to believe (for example standing in the middle of a road and screaming for help in the middle of nowhere will not help your matter, I take any bet), and last but not least, to cite Lord of the Flies is an overused and boring approach these days, just saying. Anyway, Black Summer is solid and sometimes even good and beats easy everything TWD and FTWD delivered over the past few years/seasons. If you (still) like to watch zombies (like I do), Black Summer will be a really pleasant surprise and experience.