Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "I Love Sarah Jane" is an Australian 15-minute short film that takes place in a world where zombies are apparently nothing really abnormal anymore. This was made 7 years ago, so 2 years before "The Walking Dead". People who enjoy this show can check this one here out as well. Writer and director Spencer Susser is mostly known for his work on Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Hesher". In terms of the story, this could have been better I think. The crush of the male protagonist on Sarah Jane occasionally feels really just side-action to the zombie plot. And it would have been actually fairly interesting to find out in detail about what happened to the father. They threw us an interesting quote, but sadly did not elaborate on it whatsoever. Anyway, this film is an interesting example on how differently careers can develop. Wasikowska is one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood right now from her age group, Brad Ashby has never acted in another movie before or after this one. It's obvious he is only second fiddle here to the title character. All in all, not a particularly great film though and only worth a watch for huge fans of zombie movies.

Woodyanders Zombie horror has become so exhausted and clichéd as of late that it's becoming exceedingly hard to find any fresh and original takes on this particular premise. Director/co-writer Spencer Susser gives the ol' lethal walking dead flesh-eaters bring about the end of the world as we know it story a much-needed potent and invigorating kick in the pants by focusing on how said apocalypse would have a profound impact on a handful of kids left to fend for themselves sans adult supervision. Naturally, said tykes would lose almost all residual traces of decent humanity and behave in the worst manner imaginable by degenerating into savagery (one particularly sadistic teenager gleefully tortures a hapless tied-up zombie), swearing excessively, and drinking beer. Moreover, there's a sweet central romance with the awkward Jimbo (well played by Brad Ashby) pining for the lovely Sarah Jane (a fine performance by the beguiling Mia Wasikowska, who went on to portray the title character in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"!). But it's the sudden moments of raw and vicious violence that provide an extra hard-hitting edge, with an especially disturbing conclusion in which Sarah Jane proves to be the toughest of the bunch. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw gives the picture an effectively gray'n'gloomy look while the opening smooth tracking showing a corpse-strewn suburban wasteland is truly striking and impressive. Michael Lira's spare droning score likewise does the trick. The use of the cutesy ditty "Like a Lollipop in a Candy Shop" over the ending credits is simply brilliant. Why, this short even manages the remarkable feat of making the zombie (Richard Mueck in gnarly rotting skull-faced make-up) a rather pitiable figure as he's senselessly brutalized by the kids. Highly recommended.

dundeal78 This short accomplishes what mainstream Hollywood-- more often than not-- fails to do in 2 1/2 hrs. You have a solid grasp of every character in the film. You develop sympathy and disgust, you see what makes them tick. And everyone of them is genuine. Maybe even the zombie. The kids are believable, and in fifteen minutes you have a full understanding of how complicated they are, and a genuine feel for their complications. To convey that in fifteen minutes of silly whimsy is truly a work of genius. It also provided a solid sense of place and the social circumstances surrounding what truly is a complete story. No mean feat. I loved it.

Tickleberry1405 This film has done what so many short films and feature films fail to do. it's created a world of its own that has depth. it's created characters with believable actions and reactions. and it creates a free flowing story that progresses naturally through the film.i've read several reviews that complain about the amount of cussing that the kids do in the film. if this offends you, then you're probably out of your depth watching a genre film to begin with, and if you don't think this is realistic behaviour then you don't know kids (real kids). if you left a handful of kids to their own devices in a post apocalyptic world, what do you think they'd get up to? they'd torture zombies with whatever tools they can get their hands on. they'd swear. they'd drink beer. they'd do anything they wanted, particularly the things they'd been told never to do.i can't explain how impressed i was by this short film, and i sincerely hope it leads to great success and further features from the writers and director.