Zomcom Showdown!

It’s Me and My Mates vs. The Zombie Apocalypse VS. Freaks of Nature. I picked them both up on Blu-ray, but which was the better impulse buy?

ME AND MY MATES VS. THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE (2015)

This one should be so much funnier than it is based on the title alone. As it stands, it is not the Australian Shaun of the Dead some might be hoping for.

We’re thrown right into the zombie apocalypse with a handful of people at a phone company. They’re trying to figure out a way to get a call out for help, but end up doing a whole lot of talking instead.

There’s also conflict between a few of the guys – they like the one female in the group, her dad is on the scene, and there are numerous suggestions that the guys are actually gay. No one turns out to be gay.

Finally, the zombies get in the building. This is by far the most exciting, funniest, and goriest part of the film. If only it didn’t take an hour to get to it. The zombies look cool, but there’s absolutely nothing new here.

The cast is very good and does its best to create funny moments, the actors are just not given the right material to pull it off.

FREAKS OF NATURE (2015)

This is what I’m talking about! Freaks of Nature is a fun, funny romp with plenty of surprises, beginning with the huge cast, which includes Keegan-Michael Key, Vanessa Hudgens, Denis Leary, Joan Cusack, Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad, Patton Oswalt, Rachael Harris (Lucifer), Chris Zylka (My Super Psycho Sweet Sixteen franchise, Shark Night 3D, Piranha 3DD), Josh Dalem (Amigo Undead), and our main man, cutie Nicholas Braun (Poltergeist remake, Red State, The Watch). Also, if you watch closely, there are cameos by two Return of the Living Dead alum as…zombies!

Freaks of Nature is more than teen zombedy. There are also vicious vampires and aliens. It’s a trip! It was even clean enough horror fun for my hubby to enjoy. After a bit of a slow start, the movie kicks in with action, gore, comedy, and even our main guy runs around naked.

There’s a great “alternate opening” in the special features of the Blu-ray that playfully sets the scene—it’s a shame it wasn’t used. As the film stands, you kind of just have to piece together the setup as it vaguely unfolds through dialogue.

Basically, zombies, vampires, and humans are all co-existing when awesome looking aliens come down in a spaceship and start turning the three groups against each other.

Chaos and comedy ensues! Plus, there’s a Billy Joel reference, a Teen Wolf nod, a Slushee attack right out of Glee, and if you check out the gag reel, the adorable lead puts on a penis puppet show. Freaks of Nature is a great one for a party night.