Army of the Dead
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Super-gory heist movie is popcorn fun for zombie fans.
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Army of the Dead
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Based on 5 parent reviews
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very good movie
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What's the Story?
In ARMY OF THE DEAD, a military transport is unexpectedly upset, unleashing a zombie outbreak. Some time later, the zombies are contained in Las Vegas, and the government is planning a nuclear strike to stop them. Meanwhile, businessman Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) hires Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) to infiltrate a Las Vegas casino and procure a forgotten $200 million in cash, hours before the strike could wipe out the entire area. Scott assembles a crack team for the job, but zombies and other threats make things more difficult than planned. Even more challenging: Scott's daughter, Kate (Ella Purnell), insists on coming along to find a missing woman who's lost in the zombie zone. Can Scott and his team make it out alive, let alone with the millions they were promised?
Is It Any Good?
Zack Snyder's zombie heist movie is hardly original, and yet, because of its cast and hardy sense of humor, it marginally succeeds as an action/horror roller coaster ride. Like many of Snyder's movies, Army of the Dead is far too long and far from flawless. The zombies aren't at all scary or interesting, and there's some iffy imagery. But though the movie employs the director's usual drab color palette, it does sometimes unexpectedly brighten up once the team arrives in Vegas. And while some camera movements and cutting can be jerky and disorienting, other sequences work quite well. In a shift from some of his earlier movies, Snyder even attempts to give his female characters a little power and a real voice.
The movie is elevated by its lovable, diverse characters, led by the always charismatic Bautista, and -- in a switch from Snyder's grim, humorless superhero movies -- a rolicking sense of humor (much of it supplied by Tig Notaro as a helicopter pilot). In the end, the movie reveals a good heart, valuing family over the stolen millions. While Synder still can't resist including his name at least a half-dozen times during the extra gory, show-offy opening credits sequence, Army of the Dead ultimately doesn't take itself too seriously. It seems to know that it's just here for mindless moviegoing fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Army of the Dead's violence. How did it make you feel? Which moments are shocking, and which are exhilarating? How did the filmmakers achieve that effect?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes like being scared?
How does Army of the Dead compare to other zombie movies you have seen? Why do you think there are so many zombie movies? What can zombies tell us about who we are?
How are women and people of color represented in the film? Do they have agency? Did you notice any stereotypes?
How important is family in the movie? What are the relationships between family members like? How far do family members go to help one another?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 14, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: May 21, 2021
- Cast: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera
- Director: Zack Snyder
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 150 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout, some sexual content and brief nudity/graphic nudity
- Last updated: February 19, 2023
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