Maggie (2015)

Dir: Henry Hobson

Parent / child relationships can be tricky. Especially when dear old Dad (Arnold Schwarzenegger) spends two weeks in K.C. looking for his runaway daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin ZOMBIELAND); who just happens to have been bitten by a zombie and is now in a quarantine facility.

A necrotic virus of unknown origin is sweeping the land. Affected humans slowly rot as the virus attacks their body and in a few weeks the infected find the smell of human flesh delicious and can't resist having a nibble or two. Reminiscent of Cornel Wilde's NO BLADE OF GRASS, the virus also attacks and destroys crops. Put upon farmer Dad at one point takes torch to his crops in what is probably a futile attempt at saving the farm.

In an effort so spend as much time as possible with Maggie, the child birthed by his deceased wife, he ships off the children from his current wife Caroline (Joely Richardson THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS mini series), talks a family friend doctor into releasing his daughter from quarantine and brings her home for a final few weeks of family life. Dad is the only one who doesn't seem to find the idea of keeping a zombie in the making at home. The local police stop by often to check on things. The step mother freaks out one day once she realises the true danger.

Title designer turned director Henry Hobson's first film is not a zombie film. Yes, there are a few zombies on hand and a very tiny bit of zombie mayhem but this is a drama, a family drama. The story here is about Dad and daughter with zombiesm filling in for whatever subtext the viewer wants to attribute (Growing up? Drugs?). I did not care about the subtext as I was struggling to make it through the glacially paced story. With just enough interesting  bits here and there I was able to see the 'was that really only 95 minutes?' journey through to the end. Characters staring off into the distance looking forlorn does not a film make.

Arnold puts in a nice performance and demonstrates he can play strong everyday characters which I suspect is the main reason he was attracted to this low budget film.

* 1/2 out of ****


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