Review by: Andrew Chan FCCA AACTA
Review Date: 5th March 2013
In cinemas everywhere from 14th February 2013

Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich

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Cashing in on the money churning fans of the “Twilight” series, comes a zombie and human’s unlikely love story that may well save the world. Like “Twilight”, it stars two attractive young leads and luckily, “Warm Bodies” is far better film, possess actual filmmaking qualities, having far less indulgence on its lead characters and even manages to have a good story to tell. Nicholas Hoult (also in the recent “Jack the Giant Slayer”) and Australian actress Teresa Palmer are both excellent and possess just the right level of chemistry to radiate the screen. The love story is certainly predictable, yet the film manages to convince and even finish off with an affecting and sweet touch. It is saying a lot, coming from someone who plainly disliked the “Twilight” franchise (although I must admit that the final film was highly watchable and could even have been slightly dark).

Teresa Palmer can easily pass of as another Kristen Stewart, except she is far more likable and actually does not need to manufacture a natural smile. There is a ease about her that shows good presence to become a future touted star. As mentioned before, the key reason why the film and the whole bewildering premises worked, is due to the interactions and chemistry demonstrated by the pairing. Nicholas Hoult is utterly convincing as a zombie with a yearn for a human heart through eating Palmer’s ex-boyfriend brains (literally). His performance reminded me of Roy Batty wanting to be “more human than human” in “Bladerunner”. John Malkovich is simply John Malkovich, as despite limited screen time, he manages to steal every scene and always able to deliver more than required of his character as the dad and protector of the human race. The moment when Malkovich accepts of Hoult to be her daughter’s boyfriend, is simply a moment of cinematic classic.

All in all, “Warm Bodies” is good cinema that works because it has something to say and manages to deliver the message with style and substance. The opening quarter of the film is surprisingly dark and works well as a satire, with the zombie killing humans for their brains and for food. Director Jonathan Levine who made the highly underrated ’50/50”, is able to balance drama, action, suspense and romance with seamless pacing. Levine is excellent in capturing the deadness of the zombies with the similarly deadpan humans living within confided fear of a prison wall. “Warm Bodies” ultimately succeeds by sticking to the basic of human needs, the strive for love, the will to live and survive and more importantly being more humans than humans. This is a wonderful directorial effort and all-round performances, the cast and crew of “Warm Bodies” should be proud. (Neo 2013)

I rated it 8/10