Tye Sheridan, known for his roles in critically acclaimed films like The Tree of Life and Mud, takes a sharp turn into the zombie comedy genre with Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. This film, directed by Christopher Landon, attempts to blend the coming-of-age story with gore and laughs, but does it succeed? While Sheridan has proven his acting chops in more serious roles, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse unfortunately feels like a misstep, stumbling into a territory of lowbrow humor and uninspired zombie tropes.
The premise centers around three Boy Scouts – Ben (Tye Sheridan), Carter (Logan Miller), and Augie (Joey Morgan) – adhering to classic teenage archetypes: the smart one, the hormone-driven one, and the lovable, larger one. Their scout troop, led by the well-meaning but oblivious Scout Leader Rogers (David Koechner), finds their routine campouts disrupted when their town becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak, the result of a lab experiment gone awry. Adding to the mix is Denise (Sarah Dumont), a resourceful cocktail waitress who knows her way around a shotgun, and a quirky cat lady played by Cloris Leachman. This ensemble cast navigates the zombie-infested landscape, but the narrative struggles to rise above its predictable setup.
The performances themselves are not the issue. The actors deliver commendable portrayals, considering the shallow character development they are given. Sheridan, Miller, and Morgan embrace their roles with enthusiasm, and Koechner, in particular, stands out, bringing a comedic energy that is arguably the film’s highlight. However, even their efforts cannot salvage the flimsy narrative and repetitive jokes. The zombie effects, while present, offer nothing new to the genre, failing to deliver scares or innovative gore. The humor leans heavily on crude jokes and toilet humor, aiming for laughs that seem targeted at a younger demographic, a strange choice considering the film’s R rating.
Christopher Landon, with a background in horror writing (Disturbia, Paranormal Activity series), attempts to pivot to comedy with Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. While his horror credentials are solid, his comedic direction here feels underdeveloped. The jokes often fall flat, the set pieces lack originality, and the overall comedic timing feels off. The film struggles to find a consistent tone, wavering between attempts at genuine humor and relying on tired, juvenile gags. The R rating feels misapplied, as the humor seems geared towards a much younger, pre-teen audience, creating a tonal disconnect.
Ultimately, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse misses the mark as both a zombie film and a comedy. It assembles a capable cast and sets up a potentially entertaining scenario, but it fails to capitalize on either. The humor is unsophisticated, the zombie elements are uninspired, and the story offers little beyond predictable genre tropes. While individual performances, especially Koechner’s, offer fleeting moments of amusement, they are not enough to redeem the film. For those seeking a genuinely funny or scary zombie movie, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is likely to disappoint. Perhaps it’s best to save your time and money and explore other entries in the zom-com genre.
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
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SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE Review
