'Little Monsters' Review: Lupita Nyong’o fierce zombie slayer is the only sign of life in this dull horror-comedy
What would happen if zombies attacked a group of children on a school trip? This is the simple question that seems to have inspired Abe Forsythe, writer and director of 'Little Monsters,' to pen down the tale.
The Australian horror-comedy follows a kindergarten class on a field trip that goes horribly wrong when they are attacked by zombies.
The 1-hour 33-minute movie begins with a rough breakup that forces directionless rock guitarist Dave (Alexander England) to crash at his sister's place. As he whiles away his time helping his nephew brush up his vocabulary, he finds an opportunity to chaperone an upcoming school excursion.
This is where he meets Miss Caroline, a bright and helpful kindergarten teacher played by Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o. Caroline's character comes as a breath of fresh air in the utterly absurd storyline.
Dave jumps at the chance to impress her, however, as the activities begin, an obnoxious television personality Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad) comes into the picture.
Amid music and waltz, there is a sudden zombie invasion after an experiment at a nearby military base goes awry. Dave, Miss Caroline, and Teddy team up to save the little ones from the monsters.
Like a burst of sunshine, Nyong'o fills the screen with her natural enigma and charming performance. She's the one who saves the formulaic writing and adds an element of spunk to the senses. She even convinces the kids that the war with zombies is just a "strawberry jam fight."
Gad has a hilarious supporting role but England has the same horrid expression through most of the scenes.
For the most part, the zombie war remains a mindless and blood-soaked mess. And lines such as "There are plenty of things to be scared of in this world, but having kids isn’t one of them" will stay with you long after the movie is over.
'Little Monsters' had the scope to turn into a fantastic joyride but it derails into a dull horror-comedy with just a few gags.
Unfortunately, the film is unlikely to enthuse children or adults.
