Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Docu on teen filmmakers with Down Syndrome; violence, drugs.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
SAM & MATTIE MAKE A ZOMBIE MOVIE takes a look at two teen best friends with Down Syndrome from Providence, Rhode Island who have ambitions of being filmmakers. Sam's older brother, Jesse (who co-directed the documentary) works in movies in New York City, and begins to assemble a crew of friends around him, and sets out to help Sam and Mattie make their dream of making Spring Break Zombie Massacre a reality. In order to do that, they enlist the help of their families and the local community, as well as financial support via a Kickstarter campaign that ends up outraising their stated goal of $50,000. While a considerable sum, it's still far short of the amount needed to fully realize Sam and Mattie's vision, and so Jesse, Sam, and Mattie learn ways to save money, as they get tips on special effects from experts, find the free places to film in and around Providence, and work in product placement into the movie. While filming, we learn more about Sam and Mattie, and how they are the best of "bros," and we see how their infectious enthusiasm keeps everyone else going during days of filming in August when the temperature was often over 100 degrees. We see the finished product in full, in all of its bloody glory, as the documentary stops to contrast what Sam and Mattie were actually contending with in high school and college and how that contrasts with what they present on the screen.
Is It Any Good?
This is a feel-good documentary about two best "bros" with Down Syndrome who, with the help of their family and community, make a zombie movie with lots of blood and gore. Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie is a documentary that looks at the creation of Spring Break Zombie Massacre, how it got made, the international media attention it received (including an interview with Conan O'Brien), and what happened after. It shows the infectious enthusiasm of Sam and Mattie, how they rallied their community, and how, in one of the most touching scenes of the movie, it was, for Sam, a chance to hang out with his older brother Jesse, who co-directed the documentary and lives in New York City.
The documentary shows all 45 minutes of Spring Break Zombie Massacre, taking up a little less than half of it. This final product shows that, as much as anything else, they are "bros," bros who idolize Pauly D of Jersey Shore, exude confidence, and are interested in meeting women. The documentary paints a complete picture of them, as we see hilarious scenes of the pair fighting against "zombies, demons, and zombie-demons" with so much fake blood and special effects gore, and their cinematic experiences with the ladies and in college, and how that may contrast with what's going on in their real lives. But really, the takeaway is how these two, through the love and support of those around them and sheer willpower, got a movie made, and their love of movies, those around them, and each other, comes through in nearly every scene.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about positive messages and role models in Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie. What are these positive messages, and how are Sam and Mattie positive role models?
How does this movie compare to other documentaries you've seen?
While showing the completed Spring Break Zombie Massacre, the documentary stops to fill in some context to what Sam and/or Mattie were actually experiencing at the time. What did this add to the documentary?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 6, 2021
- Cast: Sam Suchmann , Mattie Zufelt , Conan O'Brien
- Director: Jesse Suchmann
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , High School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Movies with Characters Who Have Physical Disabilities
Movies with Characters Who Have Learning and Attention Issues and Developmental Disabilities
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate