ALL OF US ARE DEAD: An Emotional Zombie Invasion

There is nothing more foreboding than a title of a series foreshadowing the downfall of society. From the very beginning, it establishes the feeling of there being no chance of survival for the characters we are about to meet, laying the groundwork of despair. Yet, as is human nature to strive for survival, so too is our ability to retain hope – even in the darkest hour.

Netflix’s All of Us Are Dead is the latest zombie series to not only take on the classic monsters of horror, but also tackle the unrelentingly battle of hope and despair in the face of uncertainty and death. While at times unsure of whether it is a horror or a young adult induction, All of Us Are Dead delivers a modernized version of the horror within a zombie invasion, in the youth that contains all our hope for the future.

The Walking Dead Return

All of Us Are Dead is a series that knows its genre. Its awareness of horror films and TV series is clearly apparent in the character and design, Train to Busan, World War Z and The Walking Dead, among others, easily coming to mind. Though it is not content on regurgitating what has come before, using past classics as a launching pad to honor and both modernize. All of Us Are Dead is committed to creating not only the perfect creature, but an eerie sense of unrelenting violence and defeat, a feeling, while familiar, heightening each aspect and interaction as the series continues on.

While delivering on the unrelenting gore and violence one would expect from a horror series involving zombies, what was unexpected was the depth of emotional catharsis that derives from each connection, both new and old, between the characters. All of Us Are Dead leans into emotional interactions, allowing room for its characters to experience the situation they find themselves, as well as allow the audience time to experience it with them.

This emotional craftsmanship speaks to the film’s cleverly plotted narrative structure and editing, but also to the incredible performances consistently delivered episode by episode by its cast. And while success is in the collaboration of its ensemble, there are standouts that will resonate at the film concludes. Victoria Grace shines as On-jo, her emotional journey forever twisting as the series continues. Grace gives her the depth required to garner not only audience investment but to bring a solid core to the group, one the rest of the cast can work with and against.

Ya-Hyundai Cho’s Nam-Ra, Harrison Xu’s Chung-san and Darren Keilan’s Lee Su-Hyeok each bring their own emotional layering to the series as well, delivering an understanding not only on the culture and the horror, but on the turmoils of adolescence in the face of expectation and uncertainty. A solid core to the series, they stand out but never outshine their costars, allowing connection and investment to not only its supporting cast, but into the series as a whole.

All of Us Are Dead does face its own struggles, battling momentary fatigue in its use of its characters, leaning at times into tired horror and zombie cliches and tropes. And at times, its parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic leave a weary viewer feeling a need for reprieve and distance. It is in these moments, viewers will find their minds wandering, their connection with the series momentarily disrupted.

Not Everything Survives the Creative Process

Where the series truly battles is in its identification. Is it a horror? Or does it want to be another young adult series? While it could successfully have harnessed an immersion of both genres, it fights against itself, the two idea constantly resistant to marry with one another. While the first half of the series hides this struggle easily through its contrasting scores to action, as well as brilliantly choreographed fight sequences, the second half of the series struggles to make it less obvious.

This is not to say that the series does not find its successes in each of these genres. It does find the struggle of adolescence, and even social class, and encapsulates both in the horror and as a parallel to it, but it struggles to truly unite them in a cohesive and unified front.

Conclusion

Despite its struggles to merge all its directions, All of Us Are Dead is an emotional ride with the power to reimagine the zombie genre as we know it. Coupled with strong performances and talent behind the camera, All of Us Are Dead is a binge-worthy venture sure to entertain horror and zombie enthusiasts alike – and even leave you wanting more.

Have you seen All of Us Are Dead? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

All of Us Are Dead will be released on Netflix on January 28, 2022!