Zombies, who’d have em? Stick em in an underground bunker, that should do the trick. Unless you’re trapped down there with them. But usually, when you trap zombies with scientists and soldiers beneath the surface, things tend to get a bit “Resident Evilly” to say the least.
Locked doors and gloomy corridors aren’t our characters only fear to face as the dead walk and stalk their prey in this low budget chiller. Not only do the recently dead pop up in this, a multitude of surprising cameos make themselves known, which adds another fun dimension to the film as you wonder if that really is Lee from STEPS waving a gun around. The cast do a competent job of fearing whatever comes next.
Whilst the story isn’t the strongest, setting it in the fifties gives it some originality compared to other zombie films, and the use of sets is brilliant. Sometimes it seems no set at all is used at all, encasing the characters in a floating darkness was quite unnerving as there’s no corners for anything to hide behind, and this is used to great effect.
The Rizen has some moments of pure originality viewers will enjoy, so if you’re after low-budget zombie fare with a few beers, it might be worth your time.