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Dead over heels: Warm Bodies

Friday 23rd November 2012 | David

 

This February will see the release of the latest undead love story – do we have another Twilight on our hands? Apparently not…

Nicholas Hoult has been a busy boy recently, getting in on the best-selling film genres going around today. We’ve already told you about Jack the Giant Slayer – take a look at the article here – so that’s the action/fantasy reworking sorted. Next year will also see him starring in Warm Bodies, propelling Hoult into the world of the love story featuring the undead. However, for all the long-suffering guys who had to sit through seemingly endless Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart silences (hopefully it was worth it), I have good news: whilst this has been billed as the “zombie Twilight” and the same studio is backing the film, the trailer seems anything but.

Set in a time when most of the population are either infected undead or frankly evil skeletons called “bonies”, Hoult plays a zombie known as R, explained away by his inability to recall his true name. “I think it started with an R, but that’s all I have left” he muses – which is a lovely touch considering the groans zombies generally utter; it’s like he is constantly trying to introduce himself. Long story short, he falls for the very much alive Julie (Teresa Palmer) in a not-so-thinly-veiled Romeo and Juliet storyline, culminating in R’s gradual transition back into the land of the living. Their bond starts to “infect” other zombies, who begin to “cure” themselves. Julie’s army general father, the excellent John Malkovich, is very against this notion. You’d think he would be happy that his daughter is in the early throes of a relationship, but then again, the guy is undead.

It’s got love, it’s got humour – R’s utter confusion in places is charmingly funny – and it’s got humans fighting zombies fighting skeletons. Twilight my ass. Warm Bodies looks entirely promising, and is scheduled for release in the US on February 1st. Keep an eye out for UK screenings and while you’re at it, check out the trailer below.

 

 

By Dave Rees
@DavidWRees

 

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