June 8, 2007

FILM REVIEW

Zombies deliver a message of hope in “Fido”

By Audry L. Lynch
Special to the Times

“I always start with a theme,” says Andrew Currie, one of the writers and the producer of “Fido” said recently as his new film was screened at the Camera Seven Cinema-Pruneyard. His film will be released June 15 in Los Angeles and New York City. “The heart of this comedy is about what it means to be alive in this world. The message is “don’t live in fear. Rejoice in loving relationships.”

This message is delivered by the Robinson’s Family’s zombie, played brilliantly by the noted comedian, Billy Connelly. The Robinsons are a 50’s family who take in a zombie to act as their family servant or maybe pet dog (that’s where “Fido” comes from). In this film zombies abound in local households and in routine jobs like newspaper or milk delivery persons.

The zombies are calm and tractable because they wear electronic collars, which are controlled by mechanisms, which look like TV clickers. They are the former dead who, when arising from their graves, are initially quite vicious, they like to chew on humans. Originally there was a great uprising of them, which led to the “Zombie War” in which Mr. Robinson had to kill his own father. Shots of the war are reminiscent of World War Two. Then the collar was invented and the zombies were put to work.

How does Currie make this wild and unconventional plot palatable to modern audiences? First of all there is the setting – the 1950’s. The movie features a wonderful soundtrack of 50’s music, beautiful costumes from that era and the furnishings and cars of that time. One patron said, “I felt like I was living in the 50’s again.”

The film also evokes memories of past films. It has been likened to “Pleasantville Gone Zombie.” Currie admits that he was influenced by films from the past – “Peyton Place,” “Written on the Wind,” “All That Heaven Allows,” “Lassie” and “Night of the Hunter.” There’s even a snoopy old neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, who reminded me of Agnes Morehead on “Bewitched,” although Currie maintains that he didn’t pattern her after anyone.

The Robinson Family consists of mother, father and their young son, Timmy, who shows how their zombie, Fido, changes the dynamics of the family’s relationships. Fido, Timmy the kind of attention that he craves but doesn’t receive from his father. He performs that same sort of service for Helen, the wife who delivers one of the following lines in the film to her husband, “Just because your father tried to eat you, does that mean we all have to suffer?”

If all this sounds too macabre, it isn’t. The humor and satire were never lost on the audience who laughed throughout the movie. Audience members were warned to follow the advice of Tim Sitka, the organizing force of the Camera Cinema Club who previews films once a month at the Pruneyard, who said before the movie started, “Place your tongue firmly inside your cheek as you watch this one.”

In addition to good acting, there are several other plusses for this movie. The color is outstanding and there are never more than two primary colors in any scene. For example, in the car wash scene where Helen is at her happiest, she wears bright yellow.

The orchestral score used songs, not always popular ones, from the 50’s. Currie couldn’t find a suitable orchestra in Vancouver so he used the 50-member Czech Philharmonic from Prague to produce a truly memorable score. The movie was filmed in the wine country of British Columbia, which is reminiscent of the Napa Valley.

Another strong message in the film, according to Currie is for us not to succumb to fear like Bill, the father. He starts out afraid of zombies and his fears keep building throughout the movie. The movie depicts a society built on fear and Currie compares it to the world since 9/11.

“It shows what we are facing now,” says Currie. “Walls are still being built like the ones to keep the immigrants out. We have a choice of giving in to fear or just embracing love and our relationships.”

The film was originally conceived as a short story by one of Curries’ writing partners, Dennis Heaton, in 1994. Then it was optioned by a movie company, but creative differences could not be resolved over a five year period. Now it is being released by an independent film company, Anagram Pictures and has been sold to 40 foreign countries.
Currie does regret that the film will be issued an R rating in the United States.

“I didn’t think we used really graphic violence,” he says. “That’s why we used so many silhouettes. The kids in Canada really loved it.”

He thinks that American audiences will like the film.” I predict that we’ll get the best response from American audiences. They are sophisticated viewers who will get the humor. They usually enjoy movies that are playful and unconventional.”

I think he’s right. In fact I predict that “Fido” will be our next great cult classic.

Sign-ups for the Cinema Club's upcoming 2007-2008 season are now underway. Take advantage of the special Early Bird rate of $139 for all 10 events by signing up before July 31. Every month, club members view and discuss a previously unreleased film, often with the filmmakers. For more info and how to sign up e-mail Club Director Tim Sitka at celluloiddreams@earthlink.net or call ( 408) 871-1774 or go to: www.cameracinemas.com/club.shtml.