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Parents' Guide to

Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Docu on teen filmmakers with Down Syndrome; violence, drugs.

Movie NR 2021 107 minutes
Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie Poster Image

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

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.

Movie Details

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