The Sky Has Fallen
Nothing lasts forever...
- Directed By: Doug Roos
- Written By: Doug Roos
- Country: USA
- Released: 2008
- Running Time: 71 Mins
- Links: Official Site
- Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction
Given the sheer number of zombie films that have been released in recent years, it’s always nice to see someone do something a bit different with the genre and this is certainly the case for The Sky Has Fallen.
The film centres on Lance (Carey MacLaren) and Rachel (Laurel Kemper), two people who find each other in the wilderness following the inevitable zombie generating plague. This plague, however, is a bit different to most in that there is a force that is behind it that is both raising and organising the zombies. This force, which we encounter as semi-substantial black shrouded figures, is unambiguously malevolent and also allows for a storyline that refuses to follow the ‘survivors trying to survive’ plot that is all too common.
Lance believes he has seen the leader of these figures and is in the forest with the intent of hunting him down. Rachel, like many others, has fled to the forest to escape the chaos in the cities. They meet, violently, and initially things go less than smoothly.
Lance has reasons for not wanting anyone to tag along with him but Rachel, recognising that she is safer with an armed accomplice than without, refuses to leave. Not surprisingly, the two are terse with each other, to say the least, but as the film progresses so does their relationship and an uneasy alliance begins to form between the two of them.
This developing relationship, as well as the slowly revealed backstory which hints at the nature of the disaster, forms the core of the film and gives the plot an almost leisurely feel. Not only is this approach surprisingly effective at drawing you in but it also makes the sudden bursts of violence that punctuate the film all the more shocking. And, when it happens, the violence is noisy, rapid and very effective indeed.
Visually, this film is very striking and much attention has been paid both to the look of the zombies and the beings in the background as well as to the editing which implies a lot more than it shows. What really pulls this film together, however, is the sound design. James Sizemore’s score is incredibly atmospheric and really does work beautifully with the visual feel of the film to suck you in totally. So much so that I really was on the edge of my seat by the time the film ended.
The Sky Has Fallen is a thoughtful and downbeat take on the zombie genre and one with a satisfyingly fatalistic conclusion. Although the film could have probably done with an extra twenty minutes to develop the characters and themes a little more thoroughly, the style and originality on show make this a film well worth checking out.
