Wormwood's End

Granted, it is my fascination with the zombie genre that made me sit down to watch the 2014 movie "Wormwood's End", and I must admit that the movie's cover actually seemed interesting. Sure, I was having some doubts about the movie, as I hadn't even heard about it. But still, it was a zombie movie, so of course I would watch it.

"Wormwood's End" turned out to be just as I had anticipated it to be; a low-budget zombie movie that was just another generic addition to the zombie genre.

The storyline was pretty straight forward, but leaning heavily on the boring side, because very little of any worth took place throughout the course of the story, and it was a very predictable storyline as well. So don't go expecting any grand surprises or plot twists.

As for the acting in "Wormwood's End", well let's just start out by saying that you shouldn't be getting your hopes up. The movie is definitely a low-budget movie, and the acting performances show this, as most of the performances were mediocre or dubious. But at least it looked like the actors and actresses, for the most parts, were enjoying participating in the movie.

"Wormwood's End", being a zombie movie, is relying on having proper special effects and zombie make-up. Well, for a low-budget movie, then I will be lenient and say that the effects weren't as bad as they could have been. There are some very questionable zombie make-up in similar movies, but they actually managed the special effects well enough in "Wormwood's End". Sure, this was not on the level of such productions as "The Walking Dead" or any of the Romero movies, but it served the purpose well enough. Most of the zombie make-up was passable for what it was supposed to be, whereas others were just downright bad to look at, if not actually embarrassing to look at.

The storyline was the real killer for "Wormwood's End", because it dragged it down severely, serving as an anchor around the progression of the movie. And it didn't really help much that the character gallery was fairly mundane and bland.

"Wormwood's End" has that classic low-budget vibe to it in just about every single scene throughout the movie.

I am rating "Wormwood's End" a three out of ten stars. It was not a grand moment in zombie movie history. It was watchable, sure, but hardly an outstanding or memorable zombie movie.

Very low budget. The acting, special effects (If you can call it test.), and make up isn't the best. I clicked on the wrong wormwood. Don't mistake this for Wyrmwood.

Where to begin... ? That was 80 excruciating minutes of my life I'll never get back. First off: this is not a "movie", its shot on video. Yes, technology such as iPhones and computers make it relatively easy for just about everyone to make a "movie". But, for the love of God, not everyone SHOULD! Dead Life: Wormwood's End is the perfect such example. This... project... features by far the worst makeup effects I've ever had the misfortune to gaze upon. "Yeah! Yeah! Just rub some black stuff around their eyes! Dude, that ROCKS!"

Then there's the "acting". Amateurish would have been a large step up. But it does keep in line with the abyssmally bad makeup, "script", dialogue, directing, lighting... Need I go on? But director / writer / composer / editor (probably also craft service, driver, carpenter, etc.) Schotten maybe had good intentions, some might say? Good intentions simply cannot mitigate lack of talent.

Back in college, I had an art professor who once explained to class that just because something is yours, and YOU like it, does not mean its good! So toss out the good intentions, and instead work on adding education and experience to your filmmaking toolbox first. THEN go forth and take a shot at making a movie!

Anytime the same person writes, directs, edits the movie you are guaranteed it will be total garbage and this movie proves that. If you spent time reading the synopsis you've wasted more than enough time on this piece of trash.