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World War Z

World War Z (2013)

Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.

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Directed by Marc Forster

Cast

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Crew

Director
  • Marc Forster
Producer
  • Ian Bryce
  • Dede Gardner
  • Jeremy Kleiner
  • Brad Pitt

Reviews

Dan_Tebasco
4/10

**Put's the Zzz in Zombie**

First time I saw it 3 odd years ago I was not impressed.

Decided to give it another go though today, which I wish I hadn't cause it was even worse and more dull than I remember.

Now when I say dull I don't necessarily mean that it lacks action (it has a bunch of scenes with action, and being that these zombies run superfast unlike the typical zombies in film and series perhaps even a bit more than the average) but lack of interesting characters or good actors and any sort of originality in script makes it a tired ride.

Brad Pitt is not necessarily a great actor but he seriously did his most barebones performance here, you were just on the run from zombies with cars flying over and all kinds of stuff but you barely show any sort of emotion? Borderline Steven Segal territory ocassionally, or at the very least Jean Claude Van Damme... But without the fighting skills.

So yeah not an impressive film.

Mar 14, 2017

Per Gunnar Jonsson
7/10

As with most zombie movies the plot is rather contrived and unbelievable (even if you accept the existence of zombies) but if you want to watch zombie movies in the first place that is something that you are supposed to be immune to.

This is another variant of zombies being created by some virus and rapidly taking over most of the planet. As I said, the entire story is somewhat unbelievable. When I first read about zombies as a kid there was always some supernatural/magic stuff involved. I think I liked that “explanation” much better than the virus nonsense which just have too many holes in it. For example there is no way a virus could make human bodies roam around aimlessly inside a sterile laboratory for days without nutrition. Well, as I said, it is a zombie movie so one just have to get over these little issues.

As an action movie with zombies as the main adversary it is a fairly good movie. The action is solid, the special effects okay and the entire movie continues at a reasonably brisk pace. Pitt is also doing a decent job of his role. There are few of the other actors that are very memorable though. The scenes where the zombies pile onto each other to scale walls and even reach choppers are rather cool. The movie is not very gory for being a zombie movie. Whether that is a good thing or not depends on the viewer I guess. Personally I do not mind some gory stuff in zombie movies.

There are a few annoying parts which Hollywood always seem to have to throw in. For example, the world is on the brink of the apocalypse and Lane and his wife just doesn’t want to get involved. What the f…? Also why do people always let their kids wander away in situations where they really should keep track of them? Not to mention how clumsy people always get when they have to sneak around and be silent. These things are just annoying.

Anyway, this movie fulfils its purpose as two hours of action-filled but not too intelligent entertainment quite well.

Dec 20, 2017

The Movie Mob
9/10

**World War Z makes the zombie hordes even more terrifying in their relentless need to consume, coupled with their fury, speed, and inevitability. No zombie movie comes close to the horror and intensity of World War Z.**

World War Z finally presents zombies as an overwhelming wave of death and destruction, an actually foreboding menace. Other zombie films shuffle about with slow shamblers whose vast numbers make them dangerous, but not in World War Z. These zombies' are unstoppable in their lust for human flesh, desperately climbing over each other to attempt to satiate their endless hunger. World War Z makes the fall of the world to the zombie plague believable for the first time. The film's frenzied pace personifies the panic and hopelessness of survival. Brad Pitt frantically scours the globe for hope and a cure, and the breakneck speed of the plot comes screeching to a halt in the final act bringing the crazed terror up close and intimate with unending anxiety. World War Z gives us the most extraordinary and unparalleled zombie movie to date and a frightening and wild ride from start to finish.

Aug 25, 2022

The Movie Mob
9/10

**World War Z makes the zombie hordes even more terrifying in their relentless need to consume, coupled with their fury, speed, and inevitability. No zombie movie comes close to the horror and intensity of World War Z.**

World War Z finally presents zombies as an overwhelming wave of death and destruction, an actually foreboding menace. Other zombie films shuffle about with slow shamblers whose vast numbers make them dangerous, but not in World War Z. These zombies' are unstoppable in their lust for human flesh, desperately climbing over each other to attempt to satiate their endless hunger. World War Z makes the fall of the world to the zombie plague believable for the first time. The film's frenzied pace personifies the panic and hopelessness of survival. Brad Pitt frantically scours the globe for hope and a cure, and the breakneck speed of the plot comes screeching to a halt in the final act bringing the crazed terror up close and intimate with unending anxiety. World War Z gives us the most extraordinary and unparalleled zombie movie to date and a frightening and wild ride from start to finish.

Aug 27, 2022

CinemaSerf
7/10

This time it’s Brad Pitt’s turn to find himself embroiled in an apocalyptic drama as his “Gerry” character and his family are caught up in a zombie uprising that puts the entire population at risk. Now this isn’t just your run-of-the mill American scenario - this is a truly global one. Fortunately for humanity, “Gerry” is a former investigator for the United Nations but don’t let that put you off, he’s actually not too shabby at his job so in order to preserve those dear to him, he agrees to work for Deputy Secretary General “Umatoni” (Fana Mokoena) in trying to find some sort of cure for the pathogen that’s causing all this turmoil. That takes him to Jerusalem and the via an handily placed Belarus airways plane to Cardiff where there might just be hope if he can get to an WHO laboratory before the virus does. To be fair, here, there are some great visual effects and the zombie make-up department have done wonders to turn ordinary human beings into maniacal beings without resorting to plasticine tendrils and exploding ketchup sachets. Pitt does fine as the cerebral but still energetic all-action hero and though there’s very little original about this, it does at least try to involve the whole world in the problem and in it’s potential solution which allows roles for Peter Capaldi and Elyes Gabel to bring an internationalist look to the adventures. Of those, there are quite a few and the human pyramid that storms the Israeli capital is maybe the high point as bullets and helicopters fly around all over that sacred site. The eagle-eyed amongst us might even spot the ever-gangly John Gordon Sinclair (remember “Gregory’s Girl” from 1980?) as a navy SEAL. The production standards are high and Marc Forster doesn’t let the grass grow so if you like your sci-fi horror films end-to-end with just a little nod to science, then this isn’t bad at all.

Feb 16, 2025

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Thematic Analysis

This Action/Horror/Science Fiction/Thriller film explores themes of fear and survival, delving into the psychological aspects of human nature when confronted with the unknown. World War Z presents a unique perspective on the horror genre by focusing on the psychological terror rather than relying on typical jump scares.

Director Marc Forster brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.

Released in 2013, the film exists within a cultural context that continues to evolve with our understanding of its themes. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.

Did You Know?

  • The production of World War Z took approximately 18 months from pre-production to final cut.
  • With a budget of $200.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
  • The final cut of the film runs for 116 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 142 minutes long.
  • Some visual effects sequences took up to 12 months to complete.
  • The costume department created over 441 unique costume pieces for the production.
  • The screenplay went through 6 major revisions before the final shooting script was approved.

Historical Context

  • In 2013, when this film is released:
  • Climate change awareness was becoming a central global concern.
  • Political polarization was intensifying in many countries.
  • Streaming platforms were disrupting traditional distribution models and changing how audiences consumed films.

How This Film Stands Out

While World War Z shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.

Unlike 28 Weeks Later, which focuses more on action than character development, World War Z offers a fresh perspective through its innovative visual language and narrative structure.

While films like Die Hard 2 and Resident Evil explore similar territory, World War Z stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.

This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its bold artistic choices and willingness to challenge viewer expectations, making it a valuable addition to its genre.

Details

  • Release Date: June 19, 2013
  • Runtime: 1h 56m
  • Budget: $200,000,000
  • Revenue: $531,865,000

Where to Watch

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