‘Maggie’ is a horror/drama movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin. It was directed by Henry Hobson, the ugh, Typographer from ‘Tree of Life’ and umm ‘Title Designer’ of Hanger 3 (Gotta love the “known for” section of IMDB), and it was brought to us by a truck load of different groups (Please refer to the conga line of em at the beginning of the movie). Despite the big names associated, it’s something of an indie affair. The tone is a little confusing if you've made a judgment about seeing this movie based on the trailer. Heck, the hook in this movie is misleading, where Arnold goes toe to toe with a Zombie early on, in a brief heart starting segment, but that’s all the horror jump that’s ever injected into it.
So be warned: There’s no action. There’s no real gore. No one-liners...
It’s only even a drama in a loose sense as there’s barely any drama. It’s like we’re coming to the story after everything’s happened and everyone’s just – dealing. It’s a slow moving, heavy, tragic, black cloud. Does that sound like fun? Depressing? Sure is. It’s a Zombie movie, sure, I guess, but especially in the sense that many works in the genre can be seen as commentary on our world and experience. In this instance, it might help to view it as commentary on how dark it gets in the face of terminal illness.
It’s a story about a father being with his daughter through the final stages of turning into a zombie. He wrestles with his role in those final stages; she comes to terms with the impending loss of control and end of her conscious life. The underlying themes here are of choices, control and consequences.
Is it rainy outside? Yes? Do you feel a little like the sky? That might be a good test as to if you’re in the mood for this. If you are, get ready for some artsy cinematography, and some surprising performances. Schwarzenegger pulls off an emotional roll well (Here’s hoping it’s the first of many more), but the real star is Breslin, who really shines. What keeps the movie going is well told stories of how people and families were infected and affected by the outbreak. It keeps you thinking after the end credits have rolled. It was a surprising and impressive watch and it gets an 8/10. It was rainy outside… and now it’ll be rainy inside. *points to heart, “Inside here”.
(SPOILER WARNING) Seriously though, casting Arnold as the father in Maggie, in my opinion was pretty damn smart. Not because Arnold ended up pulling through, and turning out a subtle but effective performance, but because of who he is as an icon. There’s no escaping that tough man, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a pegged action hero. He’s every bit what we imagine a competent protector might be. That’s the appeal for a great part of the movie. It is heartbreaking to watch someone as strong as Arnold struggle to keep his daughter from harm, when really there's little he can do.There's weight in the realization that he must protect her from herself, and eventually others from his own daughter. The twist here is that the movie is more about the person being protected. Because Arnold’s has such a screen presence, it forces a perspective that’s turned on its head in an abrupt ending when we realize that it wasn't about Arnold’s character’s choice and his struggle, but that of his daughter.
It’s only even a drama in a loose sense as there’s barely any drama. It’s like we’re coming to the story after everything’s happened and everyone’s just – dealing. It’s a slow moving, heavy, tragic, black cloud. Does that sound like fun? Depressing? Sure is. It’s a Zombie movie, sure, I guess, but especially in the sense that many works in the genre can be seen as commentary on our world and experience. In this instance, it might help to view it as commentary on how dark it gets in the face of terminal illness.
It’s a story about a father being with his daughter through the final stages of turning into a zombie. He wrestles with his role in those final stages; she comes to terms with the impending loss of control and end of her conscious life. The underlying themes here are of choices, control and consequences.
Is it rainy outside? Yes? Do you feel a little like the sky? That might be a good test as to if you’re in the mood for this. If you are, get ready for some artsy cinematography, and some surprising performances. Schwarzenegger pulls off an emotional roll well (Here’s hoping it’s the first of many more), but the real star is Breslin, who really shines. What keeps the movie going is well told stories of how people and families were infected and affected by the outbreak. It keeps you thinking after the end credits have rolled. It was a surprising and impressive watch and it gets an 8/10. It was rainy outside… and now it’ll be rainy inside. *points to heart, “Inside here”.
(SPOILER WARNING) Seriously though, casting Arnold as the father in Maggie, in my opinion was pretty damn smart. Not because Arnold ended up pulling through, and turning out a subtle but effective performance, but because of who he is as an icon. There’s no escaping that tough man, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a pegged action hero. He’s every bit what we imagine a competent protector might be. That’s the appeal for a great part of the movie. It is heartbreaking to watch someone as strong as Arnold struggle to keep his daughter from harm, when really there's little he can do.There's weight in the realization that he must protect her from herself, and eventually others from his own daughter. The twist here is that the movie is more about the person being protected. Because Arnold’s has such a screen presence, it forces a perspective that’s turned on its head in an abrupt ending when we realize that it wasn't about Arnold’s character’s choice and his struggle, but that of his daughter.
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