Juan Of The Dead

The ‘Shaun of the Dead’ reference notwithstanding, one hoped for more from Alejandro Brugués’s Cuban zomcom: sly social commentary or subversive political humour, perhaps. Instead, this amiable film shambles about aimlessly, as if searching for a metaphor. When a zombie plague takes hold, easygoing optimist Juan senses a business opportunity and coins a slogan: ‘Juan of the Dead. We Kill Your Loved Ones.’ Armed with an oar, harpoon, machete, catapult or whatever weapon comes to hand, Juan and his crew resist the rising tide of flesh-eaters. But as Havana is ravaged, he wonders if fleeing to America by boat is the only choice. The ‘Evil Dead’ and Romero nods are fun, but characters appear for no reason and are bumped off without warning; there’s just not enough flesh on these funny bones.