Paradise Z (2020) Review

 

Two young women plans to try to live a normal life in isolation at a luxury resort after a world ending zombie virus apocalypse.

Paradise Z, also know as Two of Us, Dead Earth Director Wych Kaosayananda delivers a slow burning zombie horror that's as smouldering as it's two leads. With some great cinematography it benefits for an on location shoot, that echos Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979) and Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (1988). The barebones script from Kaosayananda and Steve Poirier, including its pace with minimal dialogue is reminiscent of the overlooked The Dead (2010).

In the mundane but intriguing first act our two leads swim, eat, sunbathe, make love, garden, shower etc which wonderfully sets up the later jump scares and virus action. Alluring Milena Gorum as Sylvia and Alice Tantayanon's Rose are solid enough, offering plenty of screen presence, Kaosayananda gratuitously has them baring flesh as the script dictates. Nevertheless, both memorable Gorum and Tantayanon hold there own offering some low key realistic performances.

The fast moving zombie infected borrow from 28 Days Later (2002) and countless others, these running infectious killers arguably take some of the eerienes away, however, they do add an unrelentant tension in the third act. The quietness and contrasting frantic scenes are complemented by Justin Katz music. To Kaosayananda's credit it's played serious, he wonderfully captures the beauty of the location and the somber feeling of hopelessness reminiscent of Into the Forest (2015).

Overall, it's comforting that it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, if you enjoyed the aforementioned films; and like slow burners, this is one to watch.