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La Horde (The Horde)****
OVER the past 10 years the French have exploded on to the world cinematic scene with their unique brand of extreme horror, even challenging Far Eastern countries for the throne of who produces the best horror movies.
While Japan is a leader in the field and best known for its atmospheric, claustrophobic horror movies, the French are fast becoming masters of shocks, blood and realistic brutality such as Alexandre Aja's brilliant but bloody Switchblade Romance (Haute Tension) and the highly controversial and Pascal Laugier's cruel, sadistic Martyrs.
Now another can be added to the list, La Horde. Screened as part of Day of The Dead III, it makes 28 Days Later seem like EastEnders!
Four corrupt cops go on the rampage to avenge the death of one of their colleagues who died in the hands of ruthless gangsters. Yet the night of their planned raid on the gangsters' hideout brings a surprise…lots of surprises, that are running amok around the city feeding on human flesh.
Stuck in a high rise block at the mercy of their foes, the cops and criminals soon realise that even though they are sworn enemies, they must put their differences aside to fight a new foe – the ravenous zombies who are out feeding on anything and everything.
The direction, from debutants Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher, is excellent and is backed up by intense performances from all involved.
The zombies, which are suitably freakish, are some of the most relentless reanimated creatures in French cinema.
Les flics vs Le mob vs Le undead results in an adrenaline-fuelled action/horror. Think Assault on Precinct 13 meets Dawn of the Dead meets 28 Days Later.
The storyline may be simple enough but it is perfect as a backdrop for the vicious, extreme action pieces that follow.
This is a superb zombie movie that almost has everything and there would be no surprise if the US attempt to remake it.
It's tense, it's gory, it's violent and it's brilliant.
Leon Nicholson
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