“Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” delivers exactly what the title promises: a raucous, laugh-out-loud journey through a town overrun by the undead, seen through the eyes of boy scouts. The film kicks off with a classic horror trope – a reckless janitor inadvertently unleashing a zombie plague from a research lab. Simultaneously, we meet our protagonists, teenage scouts Ben (Tye Sheridan) and Carter (Logan Miller), grappling with the bittersweet end of their scouting era. Planning one last campout, they’re hesitant to break the news to their enthusiastic friend Augie (Joey Morgan) and Scout Leader Rogers (David Koechner).
Their camping trip takes a detour when a deer-related flat tire leads to an encounter with Carter’s sister Kendall (Halston Sage) and her friends. An invitation to a party tempts Ben and Carter away from their scout duties and into town late at night. What they find isn’t a party, but an eerie silence, soon shattered by the terrifying realization that zombies have taken over.
Teaming up with Denise (Sarah Dumont), a resourceful bartender they meet at a zombie-infested nightclub, and the initially abandoned Augie, the scouts quickly learn the gravity of the situation: evacuation and impending government bombing. Their focus shifts to rescuing Kendall, leading them on a frantic and often absurd quest through zombie-ridden streets. The address they were given proves false, raising the stakes and the tension as they race against time to find her.
While some comedic elements, particularly involving Carter, might feel slightly off-key, “Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” largely succeeds in its blend of horror and humor. The film embraces its silliness, offering genuinely funny moments, such as the memorable scene of Ben’s trampoline-assisted window jump. If you appreciate light-hearted horror and aren’t seeking highbrow cinema, this movie promises a fun and entertaining experience filled with zombie-slaying scout ingenuity and teenage antics. It’s a solid six out of ten for sheer comedic zombie apocalypse survival.
