"ZOMBIELAND"
(2009) (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Extreme	Extreme	Heavy	Extreme
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Heavy	Moderate	Extreme	None	Extreme
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	None	Heavy	Moderate	Extreme

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QUICK TAKE:

Horror/Comedy: Four non-infected survivors form an unlikely quartet as they travel across the country in search of place that isn't crawling with blood-thirsty zombies.

PLOT:

Columbus (JESSE EISENBERG) is a young man who's managed to survive a zombie infestation -- that's infected nearly everyone and left the country in ruins -- by living via a set of rules that stem from his various phobias and general fears. He's good at avoiding and/or killing the living dead, but doesn't have as much fun doing the latter as Tallahassee (WOODY HARRELSON) who he meets while trying to make his way to Ohio to see if his parents are still alive.

Their journey from Texas is sidetracked, however, when they meet Wichita (EMMA STONE) and Little Rock (ABIGAIL BRESLIN). Those two say they're sisters and that Little Rock is infected, but are doing so as a ruse so that they can steal the guys' guns and ride. Their intent is to make their way to a Los Angeles amusement park they've heard is supposedly zombie free.

The guys eventually catch up with the sisters and the four end up forming an unlikely quartet as they make their way across the country, all while avoiding or killing blood-thirsty zombies along the way.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

They might if they're into horror-comedies and/or fans of anyone in the cast.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R

For horror violence/gore and language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

JESSE EISENBERG plays a self-professed geek and loner who's managed to survive the zombie infestation by following many rules he's devised to deal with this situation. He becomes attracted to Wichita, drinks a bit with her, uses strong profanity, and kills many zombies.

WOODY HARRELSON plays another loner whose goal alternates between killing as many zombies as possible and trying to find the last Twinkies in the world. He uses strong profanity, drinks some, and briefly smokes pot.

EMMA STONE plays a young woman who's traveling with Little Rock toward an amusement park they believe will be sanctuary from the zombies. Having already lived a life of cons, she's adept at doing the same to the guys. She uses profanity, briefly smokes pot, briefly drinks, and kills many zombies.

ABIGAIL BRESLIN plays a 12-year-old girl who's supposedly her sister with whom she continues to pull cons, just like they did before the zombie outbreak.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated horror-comedy. Profanity consists of at least 28 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, a woman uses her sexuality to distract a man, and a female zombie stripper is seen running in slow motion in just panties and wearing tassels up top.

Violence consists of people killing zombies (via various means) and vice-versa, most of which has very bloody/gory results, while some property damage occurs. Those scenes, the sights of the monstrous zombies and moments of peril might be unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary for some viewers, while the action and other behavior might be enticing for kids to imitate.

Some drinking occurs, as does brief drug use (pot). Bad attitudes are present, as is some brief tense family material. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Tallahassee pours a shot of liquor for Columbus (who tosses the liquid out the window but pretends to have just finished it), while Tallahassee drinks straight from the bottle and offers Columbus more (but he says one's the limit).

In a flashback, and responding to his neighbor talking about a strange person she encountered, Columbus offers the thought that perhaps drugs were the cause.

An actor lights pot in a huge bong from which both Tallahassee and Wichita simultaneously take hits.

Wichita walks in carrying a bottle of wine and tells Columbus not to make her drink alone. The two then share the bottle from which they drink.

BLOOD/GORE

All of the zombies are bloody to varying degrees throughout the film, with many spewing or just having lots of blood pouring from their mouths. Those they attack or kill are also bloody to varying degrees, including extreme when they're fed upon and meat is pulled away from the body, etc.

Columbus mentions he has irritable bowel syndrome.

After a close encounter with some zombies, Columbus states he found another place to go "number two" (either meaning the particular building or in his pants from the scare).

We see a flashback to Columbus sitting in a restroom stall (nothing seen or heard related to that) and then seeing a clown coming under the stall door at him (but that was all just imagined).

In a flashback, Columbus turns and his neighbor is there, right in his face, having turned into a bloody zombie (including blood running from her mouth). After he unintentionally breaks her ankle by slamming a door on it repeatedly, we see that her foot is sideways with blood at the break point.

We see a zombie feeding on a man (with bloody/meaty results) and Tallahassee comments on her enjoying her "manwich."

Tallahassee smashes a zombie twice with a banjo, and then bashes another repeatedly with a baseball bat (both with bloody results). He then takes sheers to another, but we don't see the impact of them (although we see the bloody sheers moments later).

Tallahassee discovers severed forearms still gripping a steering wheel by the hands. He then pries one off and uses it to give "the finger" to Columbus.

An actor thinks he'll play a practical joke on Columbus by pretending to be a zombie. But Columbus thinks it's the real thing and shoots him in the chest, delivering a fatal and bloody wound (but the actor doesn't die right away, and the scene is played entirely for laughs).

Another zombie has blood flow from its mouth.

Some zombies climb a ride tower trying to get to Wichita and Little Rock who are near the top, suspended in seats along the side. At least one is shot and falls a long distance, going splat on the pavement (with bloody results).

A zombie clown comes after Columbus, but he uses a carny game mallet to hit it in the crotch, followed by smashing its head with the same (with very bloody/gory results).

Tallahassee shoots many zombies with two handguns, eventually killing all of them (with bloody results).

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

Among Columbus' rules to surviving zombies is to be in good cardio shape, and he states that the first to go (as victims) were the "fatties" and we see an obese man being chased, taken down and killed by a zombie (prompting Columbus to state, "Poor fat bastard").

While only acting from instinct, the zombies nevertheless want to attack, kill and feed on humans.

Tallahassee and Columbus encounter Wichita and Little Rock who fool them with a distraction and then rob them of their weapons and their ride.

We see a flashback to Little Rock beginning a ruse on a gas station worker by being on all fours on the pavement, supposedly looking for a lost ring, but really just showing her rear to him in her tight skirt (we see a close-up of that, representing his POV). She offers a reward for that and leaves, followed by Little Rock showing up, "finding" the ring, and then wanting a reward for doing so. That prompts the man to pay her hundreds of dollars for what he doesn't realize is a worthless ring that will have no reward from Wichita.

Some viewers might be offended by background audio including stereotypical Native American chanting in such a themed store, while Little Rock runs around in a stereotypical warrior headdress of feathers and such.

The four survivors purposefully vandalize a long-abandoned but still fully stocked store, breaking, smashing and overturning all sorts of things (all for fun).

FRIGHTENING SCENES

Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, which also holds true for the sight and presence of the various zombies. All of that said, the comedy angle lessens some of the severity of most of that material.

Tallahassee and Columbus slowly approach a snack truck that's off the road, cautiously opening the door to find only snacks.

We see a flashback to Columbus sitting in a restroom stall (nothing seen or heard related to that) and then seeing a clown coming under the stall door at him (but that was all just imagined).

Tallahassee and Columbus encounter Wichita and Little Rock, with the latter reportedly having just been bitten and likely to turn into a zombie. Wichita then has Tallahassee prepare to shoot her in a mercy killing, and he aims his shotgun at her head, followed by Wichita then asking to do that herself. But it's all a ruse, as she then aims that gun at Tallahassee as the sisters take both their weapons and their ride.

Tallahassee cautiously approaches his truck that's now seemingly been abandoned by the sisters.

Various zombies climb up a lift tower ride, trying to get at and attack Wichita and Little Rock who are seated and belted into seats suspended from the tower.

GUNS/WEAPONS

Handguns/Shotguns/Machine Guns/Knives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill zombies. See "Violence" for details.

Upon first meeting, Columbus aims his shotgun at Tallahassee who aims his sawed-off shotgun back at him.

We see a parked military tank.

After discovering a cache of weapons, Tallahassee fires a machine gun into the air in celebration.

Little Rock holds a shotgun on Tallahassee and fires a warning shot by him.

Tallahassee grabs Little Rock's gun and holds it on her, followed by Wichita holding her gun on Tallahassee, who points his back at her, resulting in a standoff.

The four survivors do a gun salute for a recently deceased person (firing guns into the air).

Tallahassee does target shooting in a mansion, followed by Little Rock joining him.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "F*cked up little monsters," "M*therf*cker," "You're a peppy little spit-f*ck," "Are you f*cking with me?" "Where's the f*cking Twinkies?" "F*cking clowns," "I am so f*cking sorry," "Not so f*cking psychotic," "What the f*ck?" "For f*ck's sake," "F*ck me" (nonsexual), "You're thinking of f*cking Wichita," "Bill f*cking Murray," "Look at this f*cking clown," "F*ck this clown," "Scrawny little spit-f*ck," "From bad to total sh*t-storm," "I sh*t you not," "Go ape-sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "I laid some pipe" (sexual), "Time to nut up or shut up," "You got a pretty mouth," "I've been watching you since I could masturbate," "You're a giant, c*ck-blocking robot," "Fatties," "Poor fat bastard," "A human happy meal," "Non-cannibal freak," "You're a bit of a bitch," "The ass-kicking business," "Enjoying her manwich," "Try not to freak her out," "Bitches," "Thank God for rednecks," "You're scary happy," "A G-D Twinkie" (said just like that), "Bummer," "Stuck-up bitch," "That place totally blows," "You've royally pissed me off," "Nuts" (crazy), "What the hell are we doing?" "Poor flat bastard," "I've beat wholesale ass for less than that," "The hell I am," "My bad," "I haven't cried like that since 'Titanic,'" "Bastard," "Those bitches" and "That'll do, pig."

The action, stunts and other such behavior might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate.

Tallahassee plays the "Deliverance" theme on a banjo to signal the zombies and then jokes that one has a "pretty mouth."

Tallahassee gives "the finger" with both hands to the sisters after they reveal their ruse.

Tallahassee bashes and smashes an empty van to release some aggression.

We see a flashback to Little Rock beginning a ruse on a gas station worker by being on all fours on the pavement, supposedly looking for a lost ring, but really just showing her rear to him in her tight skirt (we see a close-up of that, representing his POV). She offers a reward for that and leaves, followed by Little Rock showing up, "finding" the ring, and then wanting a reward for doing so. That prompts the man to pay her hundreds of dollars for what he doesn't realize is a worthless ring that will have no reward from Wichita.

The four survivors purposefully vandalize a long-abandoned but still fully stocked store, breaking, smashing and overturning all sorts of things (all for fun).

Columbus sprays perfume on the back of Tallahassee's neck.

Wichita drives without a seatbelt, prompting Columbus to ride along doing the same.

Tallahassee playfully calls Columbus "Sally."

Wichita drives golf balls inside a mansion.

The four survivors do a gun salute for a recently deceased person (firing guns into the air).

Tallahassee does target shooting in a mansion, followed by Little Rock joining him.

JUMP SCENES

Columbus opens a door and a zombie lunges out at him.

In a flashback, Columbus turns and his neighbor is there, right in his face, having turned into a bloody zombie.

Columbus flees from zombies into a haunted house attraction at an amusement park where a figure suddenly pops out at him, followed by a real zombie doing the same.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

At least 28 "f" words (2 used with "mother," 1 used sexually as are various non-explicit, slang terms, such as "Laid some pipe"), 11 "s" words, 1 slang term using male genitals ("c*ck"), 4 asses, 2 hells, 1 crap, 6 uses of "Oh my God," 3 of "G-damn" (1 said as "G-D") and 2 uses of "Jesus Christ."

SEX/NUDITY

We see a zombie stripper running along in just her panties or bikini briefs, her breasts and tassels flopping about in the slow-motion shot as she chases a victim.

As we see a flashback to Columbus' life before the zombies, he's seen shirtless in his place, and comments via voice-over narration that questioning the status of his virginity was in order (something along those lines, but that's the gist).

Tallahassee questions Columbus about the last time he had sex, using various euphemisms, while Columbus states that he last "laid some pipe" with a woman a few weeks ago in a FedEx truck.

Tallahassee plays the "Deliverance" theme on a banjo to signal the zombies and then jokes that one has a "pretty mouth."

We see a flashback to Little Rock beginning a ruse on a gas station worker by being on all fours on the pavement, supposedly looking for a lost ring, but really just showing her rear to him in her tight skirt (we see a close-up of that, representing his POV).

Realizing Columbus is interested in her, Tallahassee tells Columbus, "You're thinking of f*cking Wichita," and then adds that's okay since she's spent the past 24 hours "f*cking" both of them (the latter not meant sexually).

Excited to see him, Tallahassee tells a movie star that he's been watching him since he (Tallahassee) could masturbate.

Wichita talks of her first kiss and Columbus wonders if tongue was involved. The two then end up dancing, and about Columbus being a nerd, Wichita says (what sounded like) she could "hit that" (presumably meant sexually). The two nearly kiss, but Tallahassee accidentally interrupts them, later prompting Columbus to complain, "You're a giant c*ck-blocking robot." Tallahassee then says it wasn't like Columbus was going to "score" considering he wasn't "burning trenches" before they met.

Columbus and Wichita passionately kiss while clothed and standing.

SMOKING

None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Columbus mentions that having no family or close friends has allowed him to avoid being infected by the zombie plague.

Tallahassee and Columbus encounter Wichita and Little Rock, with the latter reportedly having just been bitten and likely to turn into a zombie. Wichita then has Tallahassee prepare to shoot her in a mercy killing, and he aims his shotgun at her head, followed by Wichita then asking to do that herself. But it's all a ruse, as she then aims that gun at Tallahassee as the sisters take both their weapons and their ride.

Not knowing the ramifications of doing so, Wichita states that the city of Columbus was burned to the ground, thus indicating to Columbus that his parents are probably dead.

In a flashback, we see that Tallahassee had a son, and the father in the present cries over his loss (from sometime in the past).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

The film's mix of comedy and horror.

Zombies as a metaphor about contagious diseases.

What one would do in a similar situation.

VIOLENCE

The opening of the film immediately shows the chaos that is Zombieland, with burning cars and the Capitol dome burning. We see cars crashing into others, while zombies chase after, attack, kill and begin to eat their human victims (all played fairly light and comedic in tone, but still graphic, bloody and gory in what's shown). That includes a zombie attacking and feeding on a guy, a human shooting a zombie, but neglecting to do so twice, thus allowing the zombie to bite her on the leg. A guy seated in a bathroom stall is attacked (we see blood spraying and splattering onto the floor), while little zombie girls attack an SUV and then fall off to the road and ground as the driver races off. That driver or another then slams into a vehicle and is blasted out through her windshield, flying through the air before skidding along the street in slow motion, all with bloody results. Another zombie falls and lands on a window or something similar, splattering blood everywhere.

Columbus opens a door and a zombie lunges out at him. It and another then chase him around a parking lot before he manages to get into his car and drive off. But he then realizes one is in the backseat and he slams on the brakes and/or crashes into something, sending the zombie blasting out through the windshield and into other glass. It then tries to attack him through the hole in the windshield, with him first using the wipers to try to ward it off, and then he shoots it twice, killing it.

In a flashback, Columbus turns and his neighbor is there, right in his face, having turned into a bloody zombie. She comes after him and he tries to get away, including wrapping a shower curtain around her head and then pushing a door closed several times, severely breaking her ankle in the process. She then continues after him, with him twice hitting her on the head with a toilet tank lid.

We see a zombie feeding on a man (with bloody/meaty results) and Tallahassee comments on her enjoying her "manwich."

Tallahassee drives by a zombie, bashing her with his truck door as he passes by.

Tallahassee smashes a zombie twice with a banjo, and then bashes another repeatedly with a baseball bat (both with bloody results). He then takes sheers to another, but we don't see the impact of them (although we see the bloody sheers moments later).

Tallahassee bashes and smashes an empty van to release some aggression.

Tallahassee shoots a zombie in the head, followed by Columbus shooting it again.

We see a flashback to a woman causing a rigged piano to fall on and crush a zombie chasing her.

The four survivors purposefully vandalize a long-abandoned but still fully stocked store, breaking, smashing and overturning all sorts of things (all for fun).

Wichita and Columbus shoot two zombies.

Wichita drives golf balls inside a mansion, with one ricocheting and hitting Tallahassee. When what appears to be a zombie approaches, she hits that person with the club.

An actor thinks he'll play a practical joke on Columbus by pretending to be a zombie. But Columbus thinks it's the real thing and shoots him in the chest, delivering a fatal and bloody wound (but the actor doesn't die right away, and the scene is played entirely for laughs).

The four carry a wrapped dead body outdoors, accidentally banging the head on the door frame, the body into a wall, and then dump the body over the wall (we hear but don't see the impact below).

Columbus crashes a motorcycle over a curb at a very slow speed.

While on a ride in an amusement park, Wichita and Little Rock see zombies quickly approaching. We next see the two fleeing, with Wichita firing behind them and hitting various zombies before they get into their Hummer, with the zombies crawling all over that, including one breaking a window and grabbing at Little Rock. Wichita then speeds away, with the sisters jumping out as the Hummer plows into a body of water with a number of zombies on it. The sisters then flee again, with the zombies in pursuit and Wichita shooting more, and the two get into a tower ride and shoot up and away from their pursuers. But the ride then slowly starts its descent, with Wichita shooting various zombies that grab at their feet before the ride does another vertical launch away from the rest, except for one that then falls a long distance to the pavement. As the ride begins to descend again, Little Rock tries to shoot the control panel to make the ride stop, and hits a zombie or two before succeeding.

Tallahassee shoots many zombies with a machine gun while driving, and then drives back and forth across several lying on the pavement. He then shoots more while hanging from a circular ride, and then again from a small roller coaster.

Columbus shoots some zombies with a shotgun.

More zombies climb the ride tower trying to get to Wichita and Little Rock who are near the top, suspended in seats along the side. At least one is shot and falls a long distance, going splat on the pavement (with bloody results).

Columbus flees from zombies into a haunted house attraction at an amusement park where a figure suddenly pops out at him, followed by a real zombie doing the same. He then fights that female one, and he shoots her twice.

A large swinging ride sweeps through and smashes several zombies.

Another zombie is right at Wichita's feet as she strapped in a seat that's suspended on the outside of the lift tower ride. It ends up falling a long distance and goes splat on the pavement below.

A zombie clown comes after Columbus, but he uses a carny game mallet to hit it in the crotch, followed by smashing its head with the same (with very bloody/gory results).

Tallahassee shoots many zombies with two handguns, eventually killing all of them (with bloody results).

Reviewed September 21, 2009 / Posted October 2, 2009

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