Cockneys Vs Zombies - Review

Another week, another zombie movie. Yet — lord, luv a duck! — in the second half of this one I found myself lurching forwards and rocking with laughter. Two brothers (Harry Treadaway and Rasmus Hardiker, both charming) plan to rob a bank so their grandpa can keep his old people’s home going. They enlist the help of their cousin, a sad-sack friend and the local headcase. It seems like the latter’s gung-ho mania will be their biggest problem. But no. There are members of the undead in town.

The cast — a mix of familiar TV names and bright young things — are a big plus, with Richard Briers especially jolly, and jolting, as a lecherous old-timer whose attempt to outrun the zombies results in a very unusual “chase scene”. Georgia King is also good as a level-headed yuppie.

It’s a shame that German director Matthias Hoene employs so many dull, sub-Guy Ritchie tricks with his camera. Scriptwriters James Moran and Lucas Roche do a much better job, avoiding nastiness in favour of melancholy sweetness and exploring the horrors of old age as much as the ghastliness of cynical “regeneration”. All in all, the perfect complement to Julien Temple’s recent documentary, “London: The Modern Babylon”. There’s life in the capital yet.

Cert 15, 88 mins