Indie Gems: The Girl With All The Gifts

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I'm like you.

When we first meet Melanie (Sennia Nanua) she's a normal looking girl. Aside from the fact that she lives in a cell block, and has to be transferred to her school room via restrained wheelchair, along with several other students every morning. It doesn't take long to explain why Melanie and her classmates are different. She has an innocent crush on her teacher, Ms. Justineau (Gemma Arterton) who has to be repeatedly told she's not "a real child." When all hell breaks lose, and the zombies (or in this case "hungries") on the outside break their way into the once safe compound, Melanie, Ms. Justineau, and a few others must flee to find a safe place.

I read the book last year and enjoyed it. The film does a great job of fast tracking the novel. Not much has changed. Just enough to keep the story moving but all they key elements are still there. This is one of the most fascinating takes on the zombie apocalypse I've seen in some time. And for a film that only had a 4M budget, it looks fantastic.

Nanua shines in her debut. Her persona is exactly how I pictured Melanie, friendly, eager to learn, and so kind. The same can't be said for Arterton, who I've never cared much for. (I was also picturing someone like Ruth Negga or Naomie Harris when reading) The supporting cast of Glenn Close, Paddy Considine and Fisayo Akinade are much stronger. 

I don't even think this got a U.S theatrical release and if it did it was only in a few theaters, but it deserved more than that.

Grade: A-

Watched on: Netflix DVD

Memorable Quote: "She looks at me like I'm Jesus." - Ms. Justineau (Gemma Arterton)

Comments

  1. DellJune 2, 2017 at 1:32 PM

    I've been hearing lots of good things about this. Since I've got a couple weeks off work I'll watch this one real soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. thevoid99June 2, 2017 at 3:04 PM

    I also heard good things about this and wanted to see this. I hope it comes on TV soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 3, 2017 at 11:32 AM

      I hope so too but apparently the U.S sucks at marketing this.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJune 2, 2017 at 3:54 PM

    I saw this at a festival and I was nervous because I'd heard it was "horror". I chanced it because I'd read the book and in fact the film is quite good, and quite bearable - phew - though still quite tense at times. Good story, good acting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 3, 2017 at 11:32 AM

      I suppose zombies would automatically throw it into the horror bundle but I definitely wouldn't call it that. It didn't have the gore or jump scare factor.

      Delete
  4. KatyJune 5, 2017 at 3:14 AM

    Cool review! The book has been on my TBR forever. I'm hoping as soon as I finish it, I'll be able to check out the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TheVernJune 6, 2017 at 9:32 AM

    I have not seen any releases of it in the US, but I do remember seeing trailers of it. I will have to check out the book soon because the trailers to this do look awesome

    ReplyDelete

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