Is 'Black Summer' the must-see zombie series of 2019?

It’s been a while since we’ve had a solid zombie movie, much less a series. "The Walking Dead" went on too long and many are saying that the genre is already, well, dying. But in comes Netflix’s "Black Summer" to bring a new lease on life to the undead, says film buff Daniel Volitich.

Image source: screenrant.com

The new zombie apocalypse series is meant to be a prequel to the recently canceled, five-season-long "Z Nation" series in the SYFY channel. The idea is clearly similar to AMC’s "Fear the Walking Dead" spinoff. But it’s in the execution where "Black Summer" truly stands out.

Unlike either deliberately dark or comedic takes on zombies, this series shines because of a variety of conceits, including masterful one-shot takes that bring the audience right smack into the scene. It sustains our attention as well due to its episodic presentation, with often-telling word cues flashing on the screen to signify narrative act transitions.

Image source: fanfest.com

The zombies are fast in "Black Summer," reminiscent of the "28 Days" franchise and the "Dawn of the Dead" remake. In fact, certain scenes from the pilot episode come out as unabashed homage to the 2004 take on the George Romero classic.

But what’s most compelling about this series is its campy approach. Though the characters obviously take their roles seriously, the way the scenes are depicted is often over the top and bordering on the ridiculous. It will take a few episodes for the keen viewer to realize this quasi-meta treatment, but when that surrender happens, "Black Summer" becomes a truly fun and refreshing watch, adds Daniel Volitich.

Daniel Volitich is a student at the San Francisco College of the Arts taking up Animation. His interests include comic books, films, technology, and videogames. For related posts, visit this blog.