Synched with the 31 Day Horror Movie Challenge

“This doesn’t make any goddamn sense!”

Story: Zombie. Beavers. In the Woods. People stumble on them. Hilarity ensues.

Scares: Not really, unless you’re new to this genre.

Splat factor: From scene one there’s gore literally dripping all over the place…but things don’t get overly wet. Just the right kind of gross.

Closing scene “shocker”?: Nope, but there’s a bit of a twist two-thirds of the way in.  And make sure you stay for the end credits lounge lizard-y theme song, and the post credits scene that leaves room for (ulp) a sequel.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Zombie beavers. Yes, this is an original.

Trick or Treat?: Well if it isn’t Wynonna’s Big Zombie Beaver! Though this shouts “stupid horror film”, there’s some fun twists [Hint: zombearbeaver!] and a few genuinely smart tidbits. These make this film more than a one joke spoof, even with all the hiccups in pacing and so-so acting. (Not sure if the actors are sucking on purpose, or if the dialogue just isn’t that great and they gave up halfway through.)

Nods to horror gone by – like Evil Dead and Friday the 13th Part 3 – are nice touches. Same goes for the title sequence – Scooby-Doo-esque animation playing over the bio-hazard keg’s trip downstream. That’s a big tip-off in case the title alone didn’t clue you that this is a horror comedy.

All the usual tropes are in full effect. Idiots in the woods. No cell service. Obligatory pet that you know will end up zombie chow. And why don’t they simply get in the car and drive off?  But even with the fun moments, Zombeavers is missing a certain jenais se crap that would lift it up to cultish high camp. It’s not quite funny enough to be a great horror comedy, not dark enough for a hardcore spoof. If there’d been a bit more tongue in cheek, or less buildup and more throwdown, this could have been great. As it is, it’s…alright.

Score: 3 out of 5 pumpkins. It’s okay, but I probably wouldn’t watch it again, unless a friend begged.