Difficult to revolutionize the zombie movie. For an innovative work like The hungry, there are a hundred others who lazily recycle the scheme created by George A. Romero in Night of the Living Dead over half a century ago.
Brain Freeze does not pretend so much to upset conventions as to use them effectively, merging genres in the process. This is not only a comedy with the living dead, but also a learning tale of a teenager (Iani Bédard) who has to learn to live in a threatening world and his ill-matched duo with a survivalist (Roy Dupuis).
The whole bathed in a multitude of social and environmental themes, with the turning of a dark glance on the human condition. The spectator can thus use the empty receptacle of the zombie to register his own fears, echoing the pandemic, the division of the population and the enslavement of beings by savage capitalism.
Too broad mandate? Without doubt, yes. Especially since the dosage is not perfect, creating some breaks in tone. What could have been so creaky and deep is slowly losing its bite in the way it uses easy satire. The scenario of Julien Knafo and Jean Barbe abuses the obvious targets – pedantic bourgeoisie, radio-dustbin, Legault government – by privileging worn-out stereotypes.
Irresistible dark humor
The busy situations are however lulled by an often irresistible black humor. Dog, cat and baby are endless engines of gags, as is the cast of choice which includes Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, Stéphane Crête and Simon-Olivier Fecteau. Obviously, there is no one better than Roy Dupuis to put an undead in its place. But between the “hand” of Marianne Fortier and the disturbing presence of Mylène Mackay who recalls that the shadow of David Cronenberg is never far away, there are enough elements to maintain interest.
Photographed with care, the story also stands out for the realization of Julien Knafo (Transient lucidity). Its staging could seem flashy and overly stylized. However, she manages to bring an extra soul and personality to the production, especially in the way she uses parallel editing during the laborious first part.
Landing on movie screens for Halloween, Brain Freeze will be an experience to be lived in a group, in an accomplice room. Who knows, maybe one day this entertainment will become cult.
Indoors.
Consult the film schedule
Horror comedy
Brain Freeze
Julien knafo
With Roy Dupuis, Iani Bédard, Marianne Fortier
1 h 33