The World of the Dead: The Zombie Diaries

A belated but welcome sequel to the no-budget, shaky-cam movie, ‘The Zombie Diaries’ (2006), featuring the same lead character, Leeann, and the same predatory villains, Goke (Russell Jones) and Manny (Hiram Bleetman). Found by a squad of Territorial Army reservists, complete with their own documenting cameraman, the traumatised Leeann journeys with them across zombie-infested rural Hertfordshire towards Hope’s Point, where rescue ships are due in two days. Shambling flesh-eaters are a constant worry, but roaming bands of barbarous humans pose the greatest threat.

Alix Wilton Regan is a great improvement over Victoria Nalder in the recast lead role of Leeann; the production values in general are classier; and co-directors Michael Bartlett and Kevin Gates’s handling of the relentlessly grim, apocalyptic setting is more assured. That said, one attempted rape, and two actual rapes – the second and nastiest filmed in gloating close-up by the perpetrators – is excessive and self-defeating. Also, the cut-away scenes of army personnel in decontamination suits rounding up civilians like cattle only arrest the narrative flow, while adding little to the bleakly ironic ending.