Anna and the Apocalypse

The zombie high school musical you never knew you needed"

Amy Nicholson, INDIEWIRE

If you're not smiling during this one, you're probably an asshole"

Rob Hunter, FILM SCHOOL REJECTS

Ah, Christmas. The time for peace on Earth, good will to all and much merry-making. Thing is, Anna can't quite get in the Christmas spirit just yet. She's a popular girl who seems to have everything, but deep down her teenage desires nurse a yearning to leave her small U.K. town, her friends, her family and the world she's known for new adventures and a new life. Not that it will be easy: her lifelong best friend is deeply in love with her, her father thinks she's staying put and her friends don't share her desire to see the world. And one momentous day, just before Christmas, Anna knows she'll have to tell everyone that her future plans don't include them. If only there was something that could help her delay telling everyone she's gonna bolt? How about a zombie apocalypse? Okay, how about a musical zombie apocalypse? That should just about do it.

Get ready for your new favourite Christmas zombie movie musical, ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, the movie that will leave you singing and dancing while also screaming at the hordes of the undead. By all accounts this movie shouldn't work, but it does like a dream, with plenty of charm, fun and entertainment to make this one of Fantasia 2018's sure audience favourites. It's based on the 2010 YouTube short ZOMBIE MUSICAL, written and directed by Ryan McHenry, who also invented the Vine meme "Ryan Gosling won't eat his cereal," but who passed away in 2015 before the feature version could reach to the screen. Taking his place is John McPhall, who injects great energy, spirit and genuine enthusiasm into what could have been stale and uninspired, and makes it a delight. Ella Hunt is terrific as Anna, making her one of the most likeable horror heroines of recent years, and best of all are the songs by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly which, unfortunately, won't be available for sale for several more months (it opens in December). So for now, you'll just have to experience the most toe-tappin' zombie musical since "Thriller" on the big Fantasia screen with several hundre others who will all have the same big smiles on their faces that you do. Merry Christmas, Fantasia! / Matthew Kiernan