Zombie Honeymoon

I'm pretty sure the unadorned will enter their viewing of Zombie Honeymoon expecting a zom-com with bizarre flourishes of outrageous goremedy. I think anyone who does will be disappointed for I felt that Zombie Honeymoon was quite dark and really rather sad.
My heart ached for Denise(Tracy Coogan)who must deal with the horrifying fact that her new hubbie(Danny, portrayed by Graham Sibley) has become infected with zombie-ism after some undead diseased person arrives from the ocean on the beach of their relative's beach house, vomiting a black oily substance in Danny's mouth. Danny was actually dead for ten minutes before rising from his bed to the surprise of Denise, his physician and nurse. Arriving home elated, Denise discovers, to her horror, that husband Danny is eating one the neighborhood joggers(..a heavy man with a weak heart).






The film focuses on how Denise must deal with Danny's unstoppable hunger for human flesh, an impulse he can not restrain himself from. Even their best friends Nikki(Tonya Cornelisse)and Buddy(David M Wallace)aren't immune to his uncontrollable urges for human meat consumption.





As Danny attacks whoever at random, it's only a matter of time before the police will tie the flesh-eating murders to him. Meanwhile, Denise must decide whether to leave Danny or remain by his side despite the threat endangering her own life.





The violence is here and it's not as humorous as we are accustomed to.. instead the zombie-ism afflicting poor Danny is a terrible circumstance affecting a couple who really love each other.
Before Denise found out about Danny's "extra-curricular" activities, they decided, spontaneously, to quit their jobs and move to Portugal. The move, though, will be a pipedream as Danny's serious condition spirals out of control as his body / health slowly deteriorates.





There's one really disturbing scene, using sound effects effectively(..slurping and snacking), showing Denise's reaction to Danny's feeding frenzy in the other room, attempting to shield out the unpleasant meat-eating noises by cuffing her ears.





I think Coogan is really good in this movie, and director David Gebroe's film often hinges on her response to the crisis as it continues. The flesh-eating is particularly grisly and Sibley gives Danny a feverish intensity as he tears into startled victims who do not have a chance to defend themselves as he pounces upon them. Some of the scenes featuring limbs / body parts(..chewed into or to be disposed of) cry out PROSTHETIC, but a great deal of the zombie gore scenes are gruesome enough to elicit a response I think.





I decided to watch this based on some impressive word-of-mouth(..seems to be a cult hit)and I appreciated how Zombie Honeymoon tackled old material adding a human element so often missing(..or, for a better word, lacking), but I think the performances of the leads has a lot to do with my reaction to the movie. I think what ultimately rings true is the tragedy at the heart of the movie and how, despite what Danny does, their love doesn't shatter into a million pieces as would be expected.

I think the lasting images to be remembered are Danny's often blood covered face and his sickly state which worsens with Denise powerless to help him.