Fast zombies? Old news. Slow zombies? Half-century old news. Not-quite-dead infected? Done to death. Pet zombies, smart zombies, fungal zombie, cured reintegrated-into-society zombies? Seen all that. Psychic zombie hybrids and fumes-exhaling undead retrofitted into acting as the rotting batteries of a Mad Max-ish post-apocalypse? Now there’s something with a hint of freshness—and director Kiah Roache-Turner goes all out with that potential in Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, a sequel released a whole seven years after his directorial debut, Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead. What was once just a zany Australian twist on surviving zombie hordes is amplified into madcap zombiepunk action that rarely goes a scene without revving engines, snarling shamblers or cocked guns.
A recap and refresher first: a mysterious meteor shower seemingly causes the undead to attack and renders gasoline inert and the undead turn out to also exhale combustible vapors. Cue the creation of zombie-powered vehicles and also government experiments that inadvertently create a telepathic human-zombie hybrid. Roache-Turner’s debut indulged in bros-&-beers hangout vibes with a darker b-plot that turned protagonist Brooke into an aforementioned hybrid. She and her brother loom over the sequel in a big way but Apocalypse largely focuses on new characters while relishing in the world-building fun and splattery thrills unfolding in its corner of the zombie-powered apocalypse. Fleeing from hordes is out; factions locked in conflict is in, while the undead threat has become a matter-of-fact resource to use as recreation, fuel, tools and weapons. Who needs a generator when you can strap a gas mask pump onto a chained-up zombie to power your outpost or car?
Mercenary Rhys (Luke McKenzie) rides out from his fortified encampment to collect survivors for an enigmatic science base that’s totally definitely working on a cure and not doing grisly experiments on humans. His path crosses with sister survivors Grace (Tasia Zalar) and Maxi (Shantae Barnes-Cowan), the latter becoming the relentlessly badass co-lead on a quest to save her snatched sibling. Behind base doors, Nicholas Boshier’s villainous mad scientist brings a manic blend of animated crazy that recalls both Re-Animator’s Dr. Hill and Evil Dead 2-esque killer hand antics. Between the soldiers, science and survivors, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse unfolds like an outrageous indie ode to Romero’s Day of the Dead and its three similarly clashing groups.
However, while Day of the Dead told a grimly bleak story of devolving authority and escalating insanity, Roache-Turner’s film has a blast with full-tilt apocalypse action. The leanly structured plot packs its early acts with armored brawls and guns-blazing car combat (complete with zombie nitro boosts of course), favoring human-on-human fights over traditional zombie gore. Once the returning Brooke (Bianca Bradey) intersects with the sequel’s conflict, Apocalypse turns its unique carnage up to 11. Zombie mind control tactics cleverly outsmart base security and outgun guard firepower, while close-quarters bloodshed leave bodies pulverized into walls and viscerally shot to shreds. There’s no better barometer for the sequel’s tone and style than its knock-down-drag-out slugfest with a practically designed cyber-super-undead armed with a robo-claw. A passion for wacky and/or badass zombie action courses through nearly every minute of Wyrmwood: Apocalypse.
Fans of Road of the Dead may miss the first film’s lighter gags, fun laid-back charm, and more humanized characters; there’s no time to spare in Apocalypse for gags like “first-aid beers” or for the characters to have friendly garage chats. But as far as many-years-later sequels go, Kiah Roache-Turner’s propulsive, handsomely produced, and action-packed follow-up commits to its strengths with aplomb.
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