This reviewer thought zombie movies were out of fashion, but World War Z is a thrilling and tense film, despite a troubled production history. Some of the effects look cheesy, but viewers will be on the edge of their seats most of the time.

Brad Pitt plays a happy family man in Philadelphia, although he’s some kind of retired United Nations special ops type. They’re on a family outing when, inexplicably, the city is attacked by zombies and they barely escape. They’re flown to safety on a navy ship anchored off New York, as it becomes evident zombies are taking over most of the world.

Pitt is tasked with solving how the zombie plague started and if he refuses his family will be not allowed to stay on the ship. So off he goes on his mission. First, to a military base in South Korea, then to Israel, which has built a wall to keep the hordes of zombies out, finally to a medical lab in Wales to find a way to fight back.

You become involved in the story because you care about Pitt’s character and family. The film is constructed to ramp up the tension and it mostly works. It’s also pleasant to watch a zombie movie which doesn’t wallow in blood and gore, but focuses on plot and character. Unfortunately, it ends with the obvious set-up for a sequel. As usual, the extra three bucks for 3D is a ripoff.

Rating: four deer out of five

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Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.