The idea of a zombie outbreak has become more and more realistic over the years with societies building survival outposts for such an event. Meanwhile, in the world of movies the outbreak has happened that many times there could be written a bible on how to prevent such an event and the alternate realities of what would occur.

 

The latest vision for such an outbreak is VIRAL, from directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 & 4, NERVE), which focuses on Emma (Sofia Black-D'Elia) and Stacey's (Analeigh Tipton) journey through the unfolding nature of the zombie apocalypse. As the days dawn darker, the realisation that the end is near drives the sisters to an emotionally driven battle to survive in quarantine and with it comes heartache and mortality.

 

The relationship between the two sisters is magical to watch and as the infection hits home, the emotional charge that both Sofia and Analeigh bring to the screen is hypnotising. Add into the mix HOUSE OF CARDS star Michael Drakeford and a love intereste in Travis Hope and this teen drama brings hope to the genre that plays strong towards character over style, a strange expectation from the guys who delivered us this years big teen thriller NERVE.

 

At no point does VIRAL attempt to take on the big guns as far as zombies go but the sentimanet is played out with gusto from its stars. While horror of what can be seen is often the perpretrator of good horror, here less is more and Joost/Schulman do well to keep the sense of fear within the quarntined town with little seen of the greater event.

 

Those expecting to see a zombie breakout to WORLD WAR Z standards need look away now but as film makers try to make such an outbreak stand out from a market flooded with zombies, it's interesting to see at the dynamic of the zombie movie (survival, family and humanity) at the forefront of VIRAL as opposed to showing flesh and blood. For fans of MAGGIE and INTO THE FOREST, VIRAL is a zombie film for the emotionally charged and refrains from splashing it's blood at the screen but still manages to mess up the heartstrings.