samptra
Canada
This review may contain spoilers
I somwhat predictable entry to the post-apocolyptic subgenre
As an avid horror enthusiast, I enjoyed this overall. I think it is worth a watch, and I'm going to explain why by drawing a parallel here to the Romero zombieverse, because I think in essence there is a homage here to the post-apocalyptic subgenre.
I was a huge fan of season 1, it has a low-budget, indie feel, featuring the trapped with a monster trope, and a small band of survivors, very much like the original Dawn of the Dead. Even the ending was similar with the breach of the apartments, and the military coming in. With the season ending as it did, as well as the larger budget for the new season, it was pretty predictable where they would take this one; world-building and survival horror.
This season, is very much like Day of the Dead, military vs. survivors coming into conflict, even the mad doctor doing experiments. I was expecting it, as well as the evolution of the 'curse' and its effects on the monsters. We are in season 2 and this is how post-apocalyptic horror works, once the premise is established survival is next.
I did think the focus of the survivors in the bunker was a rinse-wash repeat from season 1 with less likable characters. And I do agree the more engaging characters should have had more screen time. The creature design for Hyun Soo is so striking, and we had only a few glimpses which is a shame. The military commander was a great foil this go around drawing on Hyun Soo's character arc in the first season and the internal struggle.
I wish they would have leaned more into the monsters, the first season had some fantastic designs that I missed in this one (yes I have a fondness for the claymation in season 1) there wasn't anything really of note in this one.
I did like the sanity slippage in the more commanding characters, the juxtaposition there is always compelling plots and that was more interesting.
The morality of human vs monster was leaned on heavily here, and the diatribe was a little trite and overly predictable would have been nice to see somthing different but it wasn't and it hit all the beats of the standard subgenre and that's ok too. You know what to expect, and there is predictability in it.
This honestly felt like somewhat of a filler season, I am hoping it's teeing up for the next installment and I'm on board, with the expectation it will be balls out.
I was a huge fan of season 1, it has a low-budget, indie feel, featuring the trapped with a monster trope, and a small band of survivors, very much like the original Dawn of the Dead. Even the ending was similar with the breach of the apartments, and the military coming in. With the season ending as it did, as well as the larger budget for the new season, it was pretty predictable where they would take this one; world-building and survival horror.
This season, is very much like Day of the Dead, military vs. survivors coming into conflict, even the mad doctor doing experiments. I was expecting it, as well as the evolution of the 'curse' and its effects on the monsters. We are in season 2 and this is how post-apocalyptic horror works, once the premise is established survival is next.
I did think the focus of the survivors in the bunker was a rinse-wash repeat from season 1 with less likable characters. And I do agree the more engaging characters should have had more screen time. The creature design for Hyun Soo is so striking, and we had only a few glimpses which is a shame. The military commander was a great foil this go around drawing on Hyun Soo's character arc in the first season and the internal struggle.
I wish they would have leaned more into the monsters, the first season had some fantastic designs that I missed in this one (yes I have a fondness for the claymation in season 1) there wasn't anything really of note in this one.
I did like the sanity slippage in the more commanding characters, the juxtaposition there is always compelling plots and that was more interesting.
The morality of human vs monster was leaned on heavily here, and the diatribe was a little trite and overly predictable would have been nice to see somthing different but it wasn't and it hit all the beats of the standard subgenre and that's ok too. You know what to expect, and there is predictability in it.
This honestly felt like somewhat of a filler season, I am hoping it's teeing up for the next installment and I'm on board, with the expectation it will be balls out.
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