Dead Rising: Watchtower (2015)

Based on the best-selling video games by Capcom, Dead Rising: Watchtower by director Zach Liposvsky brings us an new and original story that follows a young reporter's struggle for survival against a viscous zombie outbreak. In a race against time, he's forced to team up with a couple of strangers in hopes of escaping a quarantine zone before the government's scheduled city-wide purge takes effect.

Within the first 2 minutes, we get to see our hero use a toaster, fan blade and car muffler as weapons to fend off a gun-wielding zombie cop. I think it's safe to say that, like fine wine, this film's definitely an acquired taste. I'm certainly not ashamed to admit that I had a bloody good time, and as a fan of the original games, I was unquestionably impressed with how true to the source material Dead Rising: Watchtower actually was. From a buzzsaw-equipped sledgehammer to a shotgun-machete, the weapons are borderline insane yet completely and utterly amazing to see in real life. Even the infamous "Zombrex" medicine plays a part in the story, which was also a nice nod to all the fun Dead Rising games.

I guess it paid off that the franchise owners from Capcom refused to let the director bring this to life without first proving he's a genuine fan of the games by playing one in front of them. He clearly passed the test because this is probably the best video game adaption to film I have ever seen to date. What sets this zombie flick from the horde, however, is its actors and attention to detail towards the props, sets and gory makeup effects. As a fan of campy B movies, I can't deny that a large portion of them offer next to no acting talent, but this certainly isn't the case with Dead Rising's awesome cast. Featuring Dallas' Jesse Metcalfe, Bates Motel's Keegan Connor Tracey and 24's Dennis Haysbert, this is one TV star-studded cast that doesn't disappoint. Even the great Rob Riggle makes a side appearance as the original game's cocky photojournalist, Frank West, providing some hilarious newscast social satire. To top it off, the cinematography was unexpectedly smooth and includes some very cool points of view through the camera work. What stood out the most, though, was a remarkably long and totally impressive single take which follows a brutally epic zombie-killing spree.

Since the film is sprinkled with bits of dark comedy and campy violence, there's no doubt in my mind that most critics will love to pick this Crackle original feature apart with genuine hate. For the cult classic enthusiast, however, this may just be the perfect storm of hilarious insanity. Flaws aside, at no point does the film ever try to restrain itself from being a glorified B movie and fans of the games are sure to eat it up, even more, because of it. Gleefully self-aware of all its over-the-top antics, Dead Rising: Watchtower is one love letter to the fans that's sure not to disappoint!

Fmovies: This latest zombie outbreak movie has a couple run from a quarantined zone after a government vaccine fails to stop the spread of the undead. Survivors try desperately to find a cure, while typical mayhem surrounds them.

This was seemingly based on a video-game. It contains most of the usual zombie action you will have come to expect and really doesn't have too much to differentiate itself from the pack. Tonally it plays things for laughs some of the time but mostly goes for a relatively straight treatment. I suppose one of the most distinctive elements of this one is the running commentary from a newsroom. From here, a survivor from a previous outbreak who wrote a book about it offers his pearls of wisdom to the nation. On the whole, while this was quite a good idea, I never felt it was as funny as it should be. Aside from this, it's business as usual with hordes of zombies rampaging through an infected city, with a small group of survivors, government troops and criminals making up the numbers. There is a reasonable amount of variety to proceedings to keep things interesting enough and there are even some impressive technical moments like the attack around the bus, where a long unbroken camera shot follows the action up, down and over the action. But the film does start to outstay its welcome after some time, not helped by it clocking in at nearly two hours which seemed way in excess of what was needed. Overall, passable stuff but nothing too great either.

In East Mission, Oregon, the Hit Point reporter Chase Carter (Jesse Metcalfe) and the camerawoman Jordan (Keegan Connor Tracy) are covering stories from the people in quarantine of a zombie outbreak. The FEZA is using the vaccine Zombrex to inoculate the victims and Chase tries to interview Crystal LaRourke (Meghan Ory) that is on the location. Out of the blue, the patients turn into zombies and Jordan flees with the Hit Point car, leaving Chase behind. He follows Crystal chased by zombies and she stumbles upon Maggie (Virginia Madsen), a woman in shock that has just lost her daughter. They seek shelter in a loan store while Jordan arrives in the border but is sent to quarantine. While the military under the command of General Lyons (Dennis Haysbert) want to bomb the city since Zombrex is ineffective, Chase, Crystal and Maggie fight to reach the border. Chase discovers a secret about Crystal while Jordan discloses the real intention of General Lyons.

"Dead Rising: Watchtower" is a funny and entertaining zombie adventure based on a video game. Unfortunately there is no conclusion of the story and it seems that a sequel will be made. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available on Blu-Ray or DVD

Dead Rising: Watchtower fmovies. Dead Rising games don't exactly have the most serious adventure or horror story. After all, this is the franchise that has the idea of strapping battery into wheelchair to make an electric battering ram. It operates in this often ludicrous logic, although it also tries to shoehorn a cumbersome amount of narrative and plods the pace in result.

The story follows Chase, an ambitious reporter who is taping in the medical center aid. Zombrex, a medicine to stop zombification, is introduced and administered in this downtown site. Unfortunately, accident occurs and Chase finds himself scrambling to survive and get the word out. It does resemble the set-up of the games as one person is trapped in large setting.

There are multitudes of problem in writing. It may mimic the appearance, but the script is tumbling between comically ridiculous and over-the-top misplaced drama. At one point, it adds military propaganda which contradicts the supposed quirky style. The game itself doesn't venture too much into thriller and this is a movie where it opens with clown zombie, so the drama feels very detached.

Acting is a miss most of the time. There's barely any character worth rooting for as they are either firmly one dimensional or simply annoying. The original hero Frank West is relegated to a crude talk show, but then the movie introduces Dennis Haysbert, a veteran actor to build conspiracy subplot. It's as though the movie takes the combining gimmick from the game too literal and throws tons of ideas to what sticks.

Thankfully, the action is pleasantly done. Cinematography is good, definitely better than most game inspired movie. It often creates fine spectacle, especially in one particular continuous shot. Practical effect and CGI work better than expected as well, delivering dismemberment and bloody scenes with fine commitment. There's more effort invested on the violence than anything, which is fan pleasing, at the very least.

With a stuttering pace and two hours runtime, the movie does feel bloated. However, for fans of horror or the game, there is plenty of gleeful and numbing carnage here.

I love Zombies done well & they did them very well. I think some of the low ratings came from people who didn't understand what they were watching. Just remember to think Novice Video Gamer as you watch. This is the first movie (think game levels) & the main character is a novice (gamer) so he makes mistakes & he loses his weapons too often... I don't play that way but a novice gamer might. This movie is meant to be fun - like a video game! And it is!!! BONUS: Rob Riggle is HILARIOUS!

It would've been difficult to place a whole movie inside a mall and make it interesting enough ... oh wait: Dawn of the Dead already did that and succeeded! Which might have been one if not the main inspiration for the video game "Dead Rising" (there have been a couple of "sequels" to the original game up to this moment).

Like the games you can assume that there will be more movies. Especially if they are successful. The two main characters here are very good looking, which is "dealt" with very early on. A nice touch even if an obvious one. The action is more than decent and the story moves along nicely. Aspects from the game (building weapons McGuyver style) are also present ...