The Revenant (2009) Reviews

• This is a film that deserves more credit than it gets

  paulholborn2012-12-28

  My son found this film & recommended that I watch, having been a fan of David Anders from Heros as Adam Monroe & being a fan of the Zombie genre I had high hopes. I wasn't let down, this film was brilliantly entertaining & the ending totally unexpected! Anders & Wylde work brilliantly together & D. Kerry Prior's script is a great new take on the zombie genre which other film makers should take note of. This film is up there with Shaun Of The Dead, The Vagrant & a host of other films, most of which never get the credit they deserve. A true future classic

• I have not been this excited about a movie in a long time

  nzalewski2012-09-28

  I know there are a lot of us out there that claim overall movie fandom and to me, it's not measured by how many movies you own or how many you've seen. In most cases, it's what a movie invokes after you watch it. After seeing the trailer and being overly anxious, I finally watched "The Revenant" and to say it blew my mind would be an understatement. To pigeon hole it as just a horror/comedy doesn't really do it justice either. D. Kerry Prior has taken a great concept and through the superb storytelling and visual aesthetics has brought this terrific movie full circle. The end really justifies all that the characters would be put through. You really buy into actors Chris Wylde and David Anders as friends and the conversations feel very real. I have been telling everyone I know about this movie because I think it is one that can be enjoyed across genres and needs to be seen.

• Best indie horror I've seen in years

  the_bulb2009-08-17

  Last night I watched The Revenant at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, and it was clear the film took everyone by surprise. Going into the screening armed only with what I saw in the trailer, I wasn't looking forward to much; I feel that I should make it clear to anyone interested in seeing this film - the trailer for The Revenant represents the film in only the most superficial way. Yes, it is a buddy movie; yes, one of the buddies is undead; and yes, there is sarcastic dialogue and gun-play - but those just building blocks to what is, as a whole, a fantastic and sincere film which doesn't let itself get stuck in a box. What impressed me most about The Revenant was it never felt like it was trying to be cool. It was never trying to imitate, or appeal to a specific market. Granted, it does deal with supernatural elements; even so I would strain to call it specifically a horror film. The characters acted honestly and with a sense of realism that is too often neglected in the genre as of late. I enjoyed watching them make decisions and think for themselves - these were real characters, and real friends. The director was introduced as a special effects artists, who has worked on such films as The Abyss, Bubba Ho-Tep, and the Phantasm series - which is both impressive and unfortunate. Watching The Revenant, he's definitely not just a special effects artist taking a stab at directing; this is a film handled was great confidence and ability, marking a start to what will hopefully be a prosperous career. It would be a great shame if The Revenant just winds up playing the festival circuit and falling into obscurity. Someone needs to pick this thing up, it's gold.

• undiscovered gem

  Rob-O-Cop2011-12-15

  while we get bombarded with plenty of low budget junk it seems we can still miss something with real genius in it. This is one of the missed ones it seems. Well acted, well scripted, keeps the story moving, and gives us a new and interesting take on a tired genre. The special effects were also top notch and although you were aware this was a movie done on a tight low budget when the fx kicked in they went above and beyond the call. Top notch stuff. I also really liked the tone the lead actor got. A perfect balance and he delivered some really touching moments. So why didn't we get to see this movie in wider release. Studio politics? Who knows. Very worth the effort to track this one down and tell your friends. This is the sort of indie film making we need to encourage and support.

• THE REVENANT caught everyone by surprise!

  eduroca2009-10-11

  I am still blown away. Imagine the scene: Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Spain. Last weekend, with the Zombie Night Marathon, already a festival classic. And the first movie of the night is "The Revennt". Nobody knows what it's about. Nobody knows a damn thing about it and the festival director introduces it as a long movie. OK, whatever, we'll sit through it... BAM! In these marathons people normally cheer, applaud, shout and whatnot. I never saw it done more than with this film. We were all laughing our guts out every five minutes with every new situation and scene. Damn, what a movie. Talk about having fun in a movie theatre. The two main actors were superb, the storyline coherent, the situations hilarious and what's even bettr: at some points it has some sadness tones to it which makes it even a deeper, richer movie. Just on ething: it was featured in the Zombie Night in the festival, but it is not a zombie movie in the classic sense of the word. Like a reviewer said before me, think the "Deathdream" kind of zombie. I can only thank the director/writer for making this one. This has to become a cult classic, it has all the elements of dark humor (and the gore, too) that all the genre lovers like. GREAT MOVIE!