The life of a nerd can be difficult. Even in a post-MCU world and the rise of nerd culture, nerdiness still carries its challenges. Yet none of those challenges can compare to the zombie apocalypse breaking out just hours after winning the regional cosplay competition at Anime Con West Coast. With zombies flooding the world, Rocket (Manny Luke) and his best friends must trade their cosplays for katanas as they battle the undead through the streets of LA. ZombieCon Vol. 1 blends horror-comedy and sci-fi action, creating a tapestry of all things nerdy.
Rocket, Javy (Christian Casillas), Clair (Ernie Aine), and Punkie (Punkie Johnson) are the reigning cosplay champs; local heroes of the local comic-con scene. Whether it’s cosplaying as the Guardians of the Galaxy or debating anime, they are here for all things pop culture. After defeating cosplay rival Xander (Carlos Mendez), Rocket and his friends feel unstoppable. Unstoppable, until they find themselves surrounded by hordes of zombies. In the service of truth, justice, and saving Rocket’s mom, the nerds must unite to survive the outbreak.
Rocket and his friends are instantly characters an audience can root for and empathize with. Even though Rocket can be selfish or unlikable, writer and director Kyle Valle does an excellent job conveying empathy for the character. While some characters come across as one-note, the majority of ZombieCon is an ensemble effort. The idea of a group being more powerful than the lone, permeating throughout the film and nerd culture at large. Performances serve the story, allowing nerdom to shine and pop culture references to feel organic rather than name-dropped for nerd cred.
ZombieCon Vol. 1 is an indie film in every way. The love of filmmaking and geek culture radiates through every frame. From One-Piece shirts and Attack on Titan jackets to full-on cosplays from Marvel, Star Wars, and Power Rangers, the film proudly boasts its nerdiness. But more than just a celebration of nerd kind, ZombieCon showcases Rocket’s struggles with being a nerd and the isolation that can sometimes accompany passion. ZombieCon keeps the same vibe as indie gems like Hawk & Rev: Vampire Slayers and Monster Force Zero, combining a love of filmmaking and creativity to showcase style on a small budget. Valle balances camp with sincerity, making ZombieCon an indie worth championing while delivering Ready Player One levels of references.
Friendship is at the heart of ZombieCon Vol. 1, and it reverberates beyond the script into the cast, crew, and the film itself. People cannot make films like ZombieCon without a devoted group of friends who love making movies. But beyond the core themes of friendship and a love of filmmaking, ZombieCon is a fun watch. 80s sensibilities and indie horror comedy tropes energize the story. Rocket’s plight is relatable to nerds everywhere (except maybe the zombie invasion). And the origins of ZombieCon‘s zombie virus could only work in a movie like this. ZombieCon is a love letter to nerd culture and will have fans awaiting the sequel excitement only a true nerd can possess.
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