In a world populated by movies with mindless zombies hellbent on dinner, it is refreshing to see a movie where the undead are actually characters with feelings, insecurities etc. It’s also gory as hell.

Zombies Anonymous was originally titled Last Rites of the Dead when it premiered in the New York indy film circuit. One day, as all zombies movies inevitably start, the newly dead rise and try to continue their lives in a world of undead racism and commercialism. Angela is a battered girlfriend and is killed by her boyfriend when he shoots her in the head.

He freaks out and leaves, but still obsesses over her and eventually joins a zombie-hating group similar to an undead version of the KKK. Angela wakes up and tries to continue her life as it was with limited success.

She buys make-up designed to hide her decomposing and bluish-tinged skin and even joins a support group of like-minded zombies seeking to fit into modern society. As Angela’s body continues to decompose and receives new injuries that don’t heal, she is eventually fired from her job because her co-workers are disturbed by her appearance.

A small group of zombies discover that eating human flesh actually makes them feel stronger and better rather than eating the raw beef, etc. that has become the standard fair for the undead. Angela reluctantly falls in with the group and a showdown between the renegade undead and the zombie-haters ensues. I won’t give away the ending, but you’ll be disappointed.

The movie had a great build-up and good story line, but it all fell apart at the end in a flurry of gunfire and brain biting. Evidently, Zombies Anonymous is a re-edited version of Last Rites of the Dead and did not include many crucial scenes necessary for the ending to actually make sense.

The movie is worth the watch just for the engaging storyline, and the special effects, obviously on a low budget, are actually quite good. If you are looking for a smogasboard of flesh, you won’t find it. There is quite a bit of gore, but not until towards the end. Most of the movie is about Angela’s struggle to fit in, sort of like Zombies 90210. 

If there is one problem with this movie, it’s that t doesn’t know what direction it wants to go. There are some elements of humor that fall flat, there is action and horror with a definate undertone of drama. Pick a genre and stick with it.

With a name like Zombies Gone Wild, I thought there would be two of my favorite movie staples — flesh eating zombies and boobs. Lots and lots of boobs. Sadly, there was only a handful of boobs and a smidgen of actual flesh eating. In actuality, much of the movie was shot in a van and there was an inordinate amount of fart jokes. It was this campy attitude mixed with what I hope are deliberate continuity errors that makes this movie a gem in the world of B-movies.

There is nothing worse than a B-movie that tries to take itself too seriously and Zombies Gone Wild will never be guilty of that particular sin. Our story begins with a couple of nerds, and by nerds we mean over the top geekfest complete with asthma inhaler and pocket protectors, meeting up with their crude and rude buddy for a spring break road trip to get laid. Many fart, bowel and vomit jokes insue and is a dirty little pleasure for the lowest common denominator which we all say doesn’t exist.

Their shaggin’ wagon is a beat up old van that much of the first hour of filming is shot in. If you are expecting to see a zombie in the first hour, you’re out of luck.

They eventually hook up with the zombie queen and her cohorts and end up at some out of the way summer camp for the undead. I won’t spoil the “surprise” ending for you, but its enough to make you want to eat your own brains.

There is one person in this film which causes it to rise above the rest of the bad B-movies that often come in packs of 10 for $20 and his name is Juan Flabio. Old Juan plays about five or six parts in this movie and all of them are from various ethnic backgrounds. One minute he’s black, the next Hispanic and then Indian. He will often switch between accents without changing characters. So he will be in black face speaking in a Hispanic accent and the Indian.

Anyone appreciative of movies like Zombies Anonymous and the ilk should have this in their collection and spend a couple of bucks renting this. It’s a moviegoing experience you will never forget.