Woodyanders Review of Deadland

Deadland (2009)

A cool and thoughtful little post-nuke survivalist opus

[8/10 · 14 January 2011]

Decent and determined survivor Sean Kalos (a fine and engaging performance by Gary Weeks, who also wrote the engrossing script) searches the harsh and barren wasteland for his missing wife Katie Johnson (a solid and appealing portrayal by the fetching Emily-Grace Murray) after a nuclear war devastates the country and causes civilization to fall apart. Sean runs afoul of both plague victims and brutal mercenaries and inspires hope in others he encounters during his odyssey. Director Damon O'Steen smartly eschews flashy pyrotechnics and mindless action to focus instead on a simple, moving, and involving human story. Indeed, this movie is given surprisingly substantial poignancy and dramatic resonance by the likable hero's touching and single-minded quest to be reunited with his beloved spouse. Weeks holds the picture together with his sturdy and charismatic presence; he receives strong support from Brian Tees as the scruffy Jax, William Katt as loopy code breaker Shiv, William Colquitt as the ruthless Commander Rufler, Davis Neeves as sweet and helpful prostitute Zoona, Harrison Page as wise underground resistance leader Red, Cullen Douglas as antsy worrywart Nathaniel, Chad Matthews as the conflicted P.O. Harris, and Brandon Waits as crude sleazeball P.O. Clarence. The moments of fierce violence are genuinely upsetting without being too nasty or graphic. The grim and desolate post-apocalyptic environment is plausibly depicted while the bright flashbacks are well integrated into the main narrative. Moreover, this picture makes an interesting point about the severe emotional price one pays to survive at any cost. The conclusion is very powerful and affecting. Rueben Steinberg's washed-out cinematography gives the film an effectively bleak grayish look. Patrick Morganelli's harmonic score likewise does the trick. A real sleeper.