The Returned (2014)

Too much of everything

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

During the first zombie outbreak that we don't get to see, over 100 million people died. A drug was found to control the disease. There is a catch. The drug must be injected every 36 hours or the person reverts. There is a short supply of the drug as it is derived from the spinal column of dead zombies. Kate (Emily Hampshire) is a doctor who treats "the Returned" and has a boyfriend Alex ( Kris Holden-Ried) who is a music teacher and one of them.Kate buys treatments under the table. She has to battle against the societal prejudice against "zombies" which has become a politically incorrect word. It takes about 40 minutes to develop the plot and character.The film has parallels to homophobia and various prejudices, after all who wants their sister to marry a zombie? There are anti-return groups and killings.The main problem is when the movie picks up it still moves slow. I kept waiting for something to catch and hold my interest. The ending was a yawn in spite of the attempt at being a dramatic twist. Not exactly a zombie film.Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity

After a zombie outbreak, the infected people survive due to a vaccine made of the the spinal fluid of dead zombies and they are called "Returned". Dr. Kate (Emily Hampshire) works in a hospital and is responsible for the wing of Returned". There is a rumor that the vaccine is running out and Kate secretly buys vaccines from Eve (Melina Matthews), who is the responsible for the storeroom. Kate's beloved husband, the musician Alex (Kris Holden-Ried), was infected and only Kate and Alex's brother Jacob (Shawn Doyle) and his wife Amber (Claudia Bassols) knows. When the vaccine runs out, the government brings the infected people to quarantine centers while research a synthetic vaccine. However, Alex and Kate flee to Jacob's house in the countryside expecting that Alex survives until the synthetic vaccine becomes reality. But when Alex's wallet is stolen, Kate's last hope is to get some vaccines from the director of the hospital where she works. Will she succeed?"The Returned" is among the best zombie movies with a dramatic and credible story and outstanding direction and performances. The behavior of the human beings feeling despair for the situation with beloved ones is impressive and realistic. The dark conclusion is predictable but also perfect. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Retornados" ("Returned")

Filmax is a Spanish studio specialized in independent horror cinema, usually shot in English in order to increment the perspectives of international distribution. And even though I haven't always enjoyed Filmax movies, I have noticed a progressive increment in the quality of its productions. What takes me to The Returned, an entertaining zombie film which leaves aside the sub-genus clichés in order to explore the economical and cultural consequences of a "post-post-apocalyptic" world, in which society recovered itself from the crisis, even though the danger for it to happen again is there. And naturally, that threat promotes the prejudices and intolerance from some people who would prefer to isolate the "returned" ones in concentration camps... or even better, kill them before they spread their disease to other ones. That isn't a new idea; the films Les Revenants and American Zombie had employed a similar premise. But The Returned might be the one which has approached the metaphors about racism, paranoid analogies to AIDS and the references to the Holocaust with the most vehemence. Unfortunately, the second half of The Returned abandons the global approach in order to focus into the problems of a couple desperate to supply themselves of the anti-virus before the general population finds out about its impending shortage. The screenplay keeps being interesting, but it loses credibility due to two very forced twists (one of them is predictable, and the other one is absurd) and the hollow sentimentality of the conclusion, which feels absolutely artificial and prefabricated. Nevertheless, I think I can give a moderate recommendation to The Returned because of its unusual handling of the zombies, competent performances and Manuel Carballo's adequate direction. This isn't the best film produced by Filmax (I think that one would be REC so far), but I consider it a decent horror film.

If you enjoy watching paint dry than this movie is for you. There was nothing entertaining that happened during the entire movie. I kept waiting for something to happen and besides the Canadian scenery nothing did. It's impossible to care about any of the characters and I kept wondering why this doctor would destroy her life for a music teacher loser. The concept was interesting but the execution was a complete failure. As seen with the Walking Dead, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later you can add drama to a zombie story and make it successful. It was not funny, dramatic, sad, scary, or anything that makes a movie entertaining. Watch Odd Thomas, not great, but entertaining.