Fido
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Movie Reviews of Fido
Movie Review: Best of the Dead (Truly Unique)
Summary: 5 Stars
Every so often a movie comes along in a particular genre and does things "outside the norm."
Fido is such a movie.
Yes, it's about zombies. Yes, it's about gut-munching. Yes, it's about survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
But that's where the similarities end compared to other end-of-the-world zombie flicks.
This movie is more like a cross between Pleasantville and Night of the Living Dead, with a little bit of humor thrown in there as well.
After a zombie epidemic took over most of the world, a lone scientist invented a collar to control the undead and, through the ventures of the company Zomcom, was able to transform these mindless and hungry monsters into humanity's slaves, turning them into butlers, house aids and gardeners.
Enter the Robinson family, the only family in the '50s without a zombie. However, things change when the people-pleasing mom, Helen Robinson (Carrie-Anne Moss), gets Fido, a lovable zombie with life and warmth.
Fido quickly becomes best friends with Timmy, Helen's son, but one day when the collar goes on the fritz and Fido eats the neighbor, everything changes, a cover-up ensues and it's up to the Robinson family to hide Fido from those who would want to take him away and kill him (which is something that Daddy Robinson would love to see).
This isn't your standard zombie movie. Far from it. It has heart, and though a comedy, it's not slapstick or silly. Just regular funny moments. Billy Connolly as Fido is charming, lovable, fun. You genuinely care for the poor dead guy. You smile with joy when he's happy. Your heart goes out to him when he's sad. You even side with him when he gets mad and takes out his uncontrollable hunger on unsuspecting victims.
The story is original. The dialogue is great. The cast couldn't be better.
New spins on genres are something I've always been into. Though classic takes on things have their place, every time something new comes along it's like a breath of fresh air and Fido is definitely that.
Even hardcore zombie lovers who need a dose of shambling, rotting corpses and loads of blood will enjoy this film as there are "classic zombie moments" in it as well.
This DVD also contains director Andrew Currie's extremely poignant short film, Night of the Living, about the cause-and-effect of alcohol in the family but with a zombie twist.
Very recommended.
A.P. Fuchs
Movie Review: A instant genre classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
In an alternate 1950's style world, a large cloud of space dust passes through the Earth and causes the dead to rise up from their graves to attack the living. Humans have been killing off these flesh-eating creatures until a brilliant group of scientists whom form a company called "ZomCom" create special devices that can control the living dead and make them nice especially as slaves to human beings as they provide services like delivering mail, cooking, and even as butlers. Average neighborhood boy Timmy (K'Sun Ray) seemed kind of lonely even without a pet, his mother (Carrie-Ann Moss) purchases a friendly and lovable ghoul named Fido (Billy Connelly) until one day in the park, as they play together the Collar malfunctions as he starts to attack and eat some innocent people. ZomCom's top specialist Mr. Bottoms moves across the street as he must try to find a way to control these raging creatures especially their relationships with humans.
Hilarious and exciting Sci-fi horror comedy from Canada is an instant cult classic! This gem is a brilliant satire on 50's culture and zombie movies alike, not since "Shaun of the Dead" or "Dead Alive" has there been a zombie comedy like this before. The acting is great including Connelly's performance as the title creature whom is a very "Frankenstein"-like beast that anyone can relate to, there is some gory zombie violence shown in the movie but not too graphic as most and there's over the top humor that will make you laugh.
This DVD contains good extras like audio commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary, trailer, The Making of "Fido" featurette, storyboard with make-up and concept art galleries, and Zombie-Me creator DVD-Rom extra.
Also recommended: "Cemetery Man (a.k.a. Dellamorte Dellamore)", "Dawn of The Dead (1978 and 2004)", "Night of the Comet", "Shaun of the Dead", "Night of the Living Dead (1968 and 1990)", "Grindhouse", "Day of the Dead", "Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)", "Re-Animator", "Night of the Creeps", "Land of the Dead", "Diary of the Dead", "Demons", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Bride of Re-Animator", "Frankenstein (1931)", "Bride of Frankenstein", "Son of Frankenstein", "Dead and Breakfast", "Return of the Living Dead Trilogy", "Evil Dead II", "Pleasantville", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Hell of the Living Dead", "Dead Heat (1988)", "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (a.k.a. Living Dead at The Manchester Morgue)", "Bio-Zombie", "Beetlejuice", "The Monster Squad", "Slither" and "The Stuff".
Movie Review: A Wonderful Heartfelt Zombie Movie With Brains.
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been hearing about Fido now for a year, the theatre in our town didn't carry this movie, so I have had to wait. Just hearing the premise: Stardust makes the dead walk and a zombie war happens, a scientist (who is rumored to have had his wife turn zombie) invents a collar that enslaves the undead and the world is right again, years later the Robinson family buys its very own zombie (Fido) and it kills the mean next door neighbor, can the boy save Fido from true death? I mean how can a zombie lover resist that?
First of all it's a beautifully shot film, Gorgeous in Technicolor, you can really tell that the producers, directors, make up artists and especially set decorators thought every single detail out. The child, Timmy, even has a "zombie" war themed room complete with sheets and curtains. The zombies aren't too gross, because what family wants a rotting slimy zombie serving them martini's and washing their cars? They are scary enough though, to invoke that inner feeling of "any minute they are going to bite someone." Zomcom is the company that makes the collars, and they patrol the towns to make sure no "rogue" zombie infiltrates the nice 50's style neighborhoods. I guess that there isn't many rules as to what you can do with or to your zombie, because Timmy's neighbor and his "Tammy" are really, really, close. I love how he explains that he was in the grocery store when she had a brain aneurism and they had a collar on her "before she hit the floor" so she is "barely decomposed".
Fido is played by Billy Connelly, who I have known from White Oleander and Lemony Snickets, and although he has NO speaking parts the man steals this whole movie with just his facial expressions. No zombie has enraptured and endeared me like this since Bub in Day of the Dead. The story is a classic one, a boy and his "dog", growing up in a society where you don't understand why some people have more advantages than other. It's also a story of how a dead man has more emotional depth and becomes more of a father and husband, than a real live one. It's about society's obsession with death, and how you can lose your family if you hang on to the ghosts of the past.
This movie is the best I have seen in awhile, it won so many awards (in Canada) and got barely an article here in the states and that is a shame. Yes it's a zombie movie, but it's a beautiful, well written, superbly acted film that I could not recommend enough.
Movie Review: Fantastic Deconstruction of the Genre
Summary: 5 Stars
Fido / B000V4UH08
*Spoilers*
I wasn't sure what to think going into "Fido", but I'm a fan of dry humor and I love zombie movies, so I figured I might like it. I wasn't expecting, however, to absolutely *love* the movie.
"Fido" is a hilarious deconstruction of the zombie movie genre and is the perfect thing for getting into the viewer's head. When Mrs. Robinson brings home a zombie servant to help around the house (just like all the other smart, stylish families in the neighborhood!), Mr. Robinson is initially horrified, as is the viewer. The initial reaction is that this is a suicidally stupid idea - how is it even remotely worth it to risk death (and undeath) all for someone who will ineptly help around the house? What if the control collar breaks or malfunctions? And when we learn that *all* dead bodies become zombies in this world, even ones who die from natural deaths, the viewer can't help but agree with the sentiment that the very old and terminally ill should be preemptively locked up for everyone's safety.
It's a testament to the writing in "Fido" that the viewer slowly, eventually, and unexpectedly comes around to the prevailing blase opinion of the day - zombies are everywhere and there's no point in dwelling on it. It's no accident that the house-zombie's name is 'Fido' - zombies in this world are something akin to dogs. Most of them are placid and docile (thanks to modern technology!), but, yeah, occasionally accidents happen and someone loses an ear (or worse). But that doesn't mean that you don't still own dogs - just that you have to be careful, and isn't that true in any society? And, of course, the local elementary school teaches precision gun firing, possibly the most hilariously morbid scene I've seen in a movie, ever. And, sure, you can stress over your undeath, and pay massive amounts of money for a "head burial", ensuring you don't come back, but strip away all your presumptions and you come around to Mrs. Robinson's point of view: Is that really such a bad thing?
The writing and acting in "Fido" is absolutely superb, and this is easily one of the best dark comedies I've ever had the pleasure to watch. If you like zombie movies and have a sense of humor, you're almost sure to like "Fido". Do yourself a favor, check it out, and enjoy having your presumptions turned upside down.
~ Ana Mardoll
Movie Review: Cult Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
If you like zombie movies, this is a zombie movie with a comedy twist. But don't let that fool you. This is one of the most twisted comedies of all time, and you come away from it knowing you've just had an over the edge experience.
They actually went out of their way to create a `C' movie, the kind that all of us old movie buffs adored as kids, and they actually remained faithful to it while accomplishing something quite extraordinary. They added in some `B' moments that set up certain plot undercurrents, and then hit you with some `A' moments in key scenes.
The movie starts out patently `C' .. totally shallow and superficial.
Carrie-Anne Moss, a superb actress who starred in Red Planet, hands you that first `B' moment that is going to elevate this thing into a cult classic, followed by key `A' scenes.
However, it would be wrong to imply that one actress carried the whole movie. Frankly, the entire cast was superb, and Carrie-Anne shines in that setting. And, yes, FIDO (Billy Connolly) took those scenes with Carrie-Anne right over the edge without ever once being vulgar. He even manages to demonstrate why zombies retain certain compulsions even after death, and did it without uttering a coherent word .. and that scene is absolutely hilarious.
One of the pivotal `A' scenes was delivered by a young actress who played a zombie. She never once spoke. Yet that scene, as brief as it was, crystallizes many of the curious things that happened before, and that will soon happen by the end of the movie. It was a superb set up, and you don't realize what happened to your perceptions until it's too late.
It is the last scene leaves you shaking your head with a grin on your face because you know you've just seen one of the most twisted comedies of all time. This movie takes zombies right into the twilight zone.
The cast and crew created something special .. a movie that will rightfully take its place as a cult classic.