When a clumsy janitor in a research lab lets a zombie loose, chaos is unleashed, and who better to face it than a group of boy scouts? In “Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse,” we meet scouts Ben (Tye Sheridan) and Carter (Logan Miller), contemplating their last camping trip as they feel they’re outgrowing scouting. Worried about upsetting their friend Augie (Joey Morgan) and Scout Leader Rogers (David Koechner), their plans take a detour when a deer-related flat tire leads them to an unexpected encounter. Carter’s sister Kendall (Halston Sage), along with her boyfriend and friend Chloe (Niki Koss), appear, offering an invitation to a party.
Driven by teenage curiosity, Ben and Carter sneak away from their campsite and venture into town, only to find it eerily deserted. Drawn to a nightclub with no bouncer in sight, they stumble upon a horrifying truth: the town is overrun by zombies. Joining forces with Denise (Sarah Dumont), the resourceful nightclub bartender Ben had just met, and Augie, who bravely tracked them down from the camp, they soon learn the chilling extent of the crisis. The uninfected have been evacuated, and the town is slated for a government bombing. Their focus shifts to rescuing Kendall, but a misleading address throws a wrench in their plans. How will these scouts possibly save her?
Alt text: Ben, Carter, and Augie, boy scouts in uniform, cautiously approach a group of slow-moving zombies in a suburban street at dusk, highlighting a scene from the scouting guide to zombie apocalypse movie.
“Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” masterfully blends silly comedy with genuine horror elements, creating an entertaining and laugh-out-loud experience. While some scenes, particularly those featuring the sometimes-annoying Carter, could arguably have been trimmed for pacing, the film generally hits its stride. The comedic set pieces, like the uproarious scene of Ben hilariously preparing to jump onto a trampoline from a window, are genuinely memorable.
Alt text: A still from Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse showing Ben preparing for a comical jump onto a trampoline from a second-story window as part of a zombie survival plan, a funny moment in this scouting guide themed movie.
If you’re looking for highbrow cinema, this isn’t it. However, if you’re ready to embrace some good-natured stupidity and enjoy the wild escapades of this scout troop battling the undead, you’ll find yourself laughing frequently. It’s a fun, lighthearted take on the zombie apocalypse genre, perfectly suited for viewers who appreciate humor with their horror.
Alt text: Denise Russo, wielding a shotgun, stands alongside boy scouts Ben and Augie as they fight off a horde of zombies in a nightclub, depicting action and teamwork from this scouting guide to surviving a zombie outbreak film.
Final Verdict: A solid 6 out of 10. “Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” offers a fun and undemanding cinematic ride. It’s a perfect choice for a casual movie night when you need a dose of laughter and zombies, proving that sometimes, a scouting guide might just be what you need when facing the end of the world.
