Movie Review: Anna and the Apocalypse

Three differing genres come together to create a hidden holiday gem

Anna and the Apocalypse is a British Christmas Zombie Musical. You heard that right; Christmas. Zombie. Musical! Despite these clashing genres, Anna and the Apocalypse offers a unique tale of a high school girl, and her friends having to survive when a zombie outbreak happens in their small rural town. The movie was actually based on a BAFTA-nominated short film. Anna and the Apocalypse takes the concept from the short film, and expands on it, not only in length, but also with the themes by centering it around Christmas. It also helps that all of the songs are great to listen to, and if there was a live version of this, I would totally go. Especially if they had a blood splash-zone like The Evil Dead Musical (Yes, it exists, and yes, it is awesome).

The movie starts off with out main character Anna (Played by Ella Hunt), and her friend John (Played by Malcolm Cumming) being driven to school by Anna's father Tony (Played by Mark Benton). Anna's father tries to convince her to go see the school's Christmas show that night, but Anna replies that she is busy with work. John then accidentally mentions Anna's plane ticket to Australia, which angers her father. Anna wants to see the world, but her father wants her to focus on getting accepting into a university first. The rest of the ride is awkwardly silent  until they make it to the school. It probably doesn't help though that her father is the Janitor there however. During this moment we are introduced to Steph (Played by  Sarah Swire), a journalist for the school's blog who is doing a report on the rampant homelessness in the city. Steph also became one of my favorite characters in this movie, the way her character was done was just so great. We then get our first musical number, 'Break Away', sung by Anna, John, and Steph. After the song we are introduced to one of Anna's other friends Lisa (played by Marli Siu) who is performing in the Christmas show that night. Though she is shortly kicked out by the tyrannical Vice Principal, Arthur Savage (Played by Paul Kaye).

We fast forward to their lunch period where we meet more characters, and get some information on who they are, and such. We meet Lisa's boyfriend Chris (Played by Christopher Leveaux), and Lisa makes sure that he'll be going to see her tonight at the show. Though as Chris works with Steph as her camera guy he is pulled away for an assignment that will be happening at the same time. Chris reassures Lisa though that he'll make it back for her song, and that his grandmas will be there for her as well. The audience is also introduced to Anna's jerk ex, Nick (Played by Ben Wiggins), who is the leader of a group of jocks that bully John. The next song plays now, 'Hollywood Ending', which is really a bop. We then skip to later on that night at the bowling alley that Anna, and John both work at. They both talk about life, and decide to do their best from now on. Though as they have fun tossing the shoes into the shoe bin, John accidentally knocks out their supervisor. Meanwhile at the Christmas show, Lisa delivers a very promiscuous song about wishing for Santa to unload his sack for her, yikes.

The next morning, we immediately start with the duet 'Turning My Life Around'. Anna, and John make their way to each other as behind them a full on zombie outbreak is happening, but neither notice as they are singing along to their music. This part reminded me a lot of Shaun of the Dead, with Shaun walking around completely oblivious to what's happening around him. This has to be one of my favorite songs in the film, it's so bright, and cheery, and becomes only better with the visuals of the apocalypse unfolding behind them. It is once the song concludes, Anna, and John finally see their first zombie. Luckily Anna is able to decapitate it with a see-saw. The two also see that they do not have any phone signals, so they go to the bowling alley to see if the internet there works. Upon arrival they see that Steph, and Chris are there as well as since the two had knocked out their supervisor, she wasn't able to lock the back door. The group has a nice reunion, but it is disrupted when a small horde of zombies break in. The group makes quick work of the zombies, making the bowling alley safe. We also find out that everyone who was at the Christmas show is safe for now inside the school, though Savage isn't being much help as he enforces a struct regime. The next song then plays, 'Human Voice', which is a great, and emotional song. Afterwards we fast forward to the next morning.

That morning they find out that the military had been overrun, because of course. Now at this point, it would be easy to think that they are going to copy Shaun of the Dead, and get through the horde by pretending to be zombies. Fortunately, the solution isn't as silly, but still quite ridiculous; they actually manage to make their way through a horde using a inflatable pool to hide themselves. Though they are stopped when an old granny zombie sits on Steph's head, though technically not as the material of the pool keeps them from actually touching. It still isn't any less uncomfortable for Steph though. A crawling zombie then spots them, and puts the others into a frenzy. The group is surrounded, and in danger, but are saved by an unlikely hero, Nick. Nick, and his gang of jocks are able to take down the zombies with ease, and we even get a awesome solo with it, 'Soldier at War'. Sure he's a jerk, but I gotta admit his singing is fantastic, and I may have developed a small crush. *sigh* Why do I always fall for the bad-boys? Ack, cringe. The group of friends reluctantly follow Nick, and his gang as they will have a better chance of making it to the school safely with them. 

Now on their way to the school, Anna and John have a small bonding moment with each other. While John is being anxious about the future, Anna keeps her hope that everything will turn out fine. The two are interrupted when Nick tells the group that they will be using a shortcut through the dark Christmas tree store. Despite the high risk, the group reluctantly goes inside wanting to get to their destination before it gets too dark. Of course the group is attacked by zombies, and the jocks get killed. Meanwhile back at the school, realizing that they are sitting ducks inside the school, many of the people make the plan to evacuate the building, and find a new safe place to hide. Though Savage being the control freak he is attempts to keep them there, the scene cuts off with some ambiguity. Now back at the shop, the group is deciding to move on, Anna asks Nick if he is alright, but he replies harshly that, if they wanted to live they should've kept up. I suppose Nick isn't exactly a jerk, though he sounds like it. In this scenario, he is being realistic, and doing his best to be responsible, and to put up a show of himself being strong. The group now head outside of the store... only for John to get bit. Seeing as how he is bit, John sacrifices himself to save Anna. Now fueled with rage, the once reluctant girl is now able to kill zombies with ease.

The survivors soon reach the school. Savage leads the students into a room expecting the others, only to see a room full of the undead. As Savage sings his solo, 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now', the group barely escape with their lives. Once successfully escaping, the group splits up; Steph, and Chris go find Steph's car keys that had been confiscated earlier in the movie. Meanwhile Anna and Nick go off to find any of the other survivors, including her father. Steph, and Nick are able to find Lisa, and Chris' Grandmother. Unfortunately they are too late as Chris' Grandmother had passed away due to her heart problems. On the bright side, this movie doesn't follow The Walking Dead rules as it seems those who died of natural causes don't come back, only the bitten. The trio now find themselves inside Savage's office where Steph is able to stealth her way to the confiscation bin. Though as zombies surround her, both Lisa, and Chris sacrifice themselves to save Steph. Nick also reveals that he had to kill his dad when he became infected. Immediately after the are surrounded by a horde of zombies. Nick allows Anna to escape, so she can find her father, and save him. Anna finds Savage, and her father inside the theater room where Savage has her father tied up. We then get the awesome song, 'Give Them a Show' where Anna, still full of hope for the future fights against Savage who believes they all deserve to die. Anna is able to make it up to the stage, and free her father. They at first think of just leaving then, but then Savage attacks Tony. During the fight, Anna manages to knock Savage into the the crowd of zombies as he finally got what was coming to him. Nick comes in, revealing that he somehow made it. Although, not all is well.

Sadly it is shown that Anna's father had been bitten sometime during the fight. He insists that they go on without him, not even giving him a mercy kill. Anna hesitantly leaves with Nick, only for the two to be absolutely cornered by a large horde of zombies. Anna, and Nick sing one last song, 'I Will Believe', a song about keeping hope. After the song, she, and Nick ready themselves for their last stand. It could've ended there as British horror is quite notorious for their bleak endings. However, there is a glimmer of light at the end, as Steph arrives just in time in her car to save them. The trio now drive off as a reprisal of 'Hollywood Ending' plays in the background. Sure it's still a bit of a downer of a ending, but hey, it could've been worse. Everyone could've died instead... just saying. 

Anna and the Apocalypse is a very surprising movie. Given the genres they combined, it shouldn't have worked, and yet, it did. All of the songs are very fun to listen to. The characters are likable as well. Though one could say the plot is a bit simple, it's simple enough that it doesn't get caught up in it's own writing, but it's different enough as well to keep the audience engaged. This unexpected holiday musical treat gets a 5 out of 5 paws up from me.