Life After Beth Review

Life After Beth (2014)

Once again, friends, colleagues, children who have late night ceremonies well into the night. It was Valentine’s Day and I thought it was necessary to invoke on a film that had romance…but not too much if you got what I’m saying because Fuck. That. Shit. Who wants to spend all their times molesting someone with Hallmark cards and tell people about how much they love each other. It’s not a simple cat and mouse game either. Hell, I was supposed to be drinking wine and watching Birdman with Michael Keaton! As far as it goes, I watched this crazy rom-com-zombie film and I have to say: This made me think Aubrey Plaza is one of the sexiest women I’ve seen on television and film. Life After Beth is something I can cherish as a cult classic of its own right into my memories, but let me be frank…(You can be George…sorry had to do it and Harry Potter reference, eh?) this film came together so well with the likes of Dane DeHaan as leading man and a surprising all-star cast of random actors from associated genres and culture. I was oddly enough hungry after watching this film…I’ll explain what that meant later.

Story introduction
The film begins with a nice girl going on a hike. Sounds innocent, right? WRONG! The film then just proceeds to the opening scenes of a funeral of someone who has recently passed away. Now, before the film takes its course I presumed it was the girl because WHY THE FUCK NOT? Let me stop being so vulgar because the good parts haven’t even come up yet. To continue with my phenomenon of amazement, we meet Zach Orfman, a emotionally depressed teenager who loses his girlfriend and cannot seem to get over her. It begins to border on psychological tendencies, in which I say, DeHaan is the idealistic choice for dramatic, tearful and pity roles…yes, even in comedies. We see his life progressing somewhat with his bonding with his girlfriend’s family (who surprisingly aren’t as grief stricken to the core as most parents SHOULD be) and Zach trying to make the most out of his attachment to their daughter, Bethany. Eventually, we get to a point in the film where Zach realizes his girlfriend is not dead, but a zombie…a, and I quote, “fucking zombie!” Now I don’t know what made me laugh harder, the dialogue exchanged between actors John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon, Beth’s parents or Maury and Geenie with Zach on their explanation of not telling Zach or the way everyone reacts to the situation on NOT telling Beth the truth. We see the film escalate carefully where smooth jazz is the instrument to keep a hungry zombie at bay, deterioration of the human flesh from a dead body, constant necrophilia, the dark humor layered among the scenarios, and of course, my favorite piece, the romantic comedy ensuing around the apocalyptic insanity. To sum up a film’s attempt to make necrophilia appropriate (it really is not…), the performances from the cast were pretty decent and you can definitely note the moments of improvisation and a few sight gags to key in.
This is the fan based idea of how I would probably perceive an end of the world scenario…aside from This is the End, Zombieland, and Supernatural. Yes, this is for the geeks indeed. That’s all I can on exploit for the time being on that subject matter.

Why am I watching this film?
The big question I asked myself throughout the film was “How can I not be attracted to Aubrey Plaza?” As we progress into the story, it still shows how, ironically enough, a relationship is important to the girl even if she’s in the afterlife stage of their relationship (see what I did there?). The fact Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mystery Team) is not only relinquishing her deadpan style into the film (most filmmakers call it a typecast on her front although, she’s mentioned in an interview she doesn’t mind because it means she did her part) but we see a fun side to her similar to her character, April Ludgate-Dwyer in Parks and Rec. When you have the likes of Anna Kendrick, Matthew Grey Gubler, Jim O’Heir (also, on Parks and Recs as the famously punching bag, Jerry), John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, and Paul Reiser, it’s bound to be a gaggle of fun. The tone of the film sets itself across a tangible line between where you can cross boundaries and where an obsession becomes addiction and finalizes a solution. The last sentence threw you, the reader, off I know but watch the film and I think you’ll come to understand where I’m going with this. The film became something of an intrigue to me because I love a good rom-com as much as the next guy. Plus, I can’t deal with ACTUAL romance because let’s face it: I’m a nerd. Only a nerd can understand how I feel when they read something like this post-Valentine’s Day. Laughs. My last point to why I watched this film is because it took place in Los Angeles. I’m not directly from that part of California but I’ll be damned to say the scenes made me miss San Diego and how the possibility that a lot of shit can go up in flames in a matter of minutes to appreciate how well done the production piece of this film was.
Does the music keep up with the film?
I’ll keep this one brief: the film score of this movie was pretty much a cheesy, stylistic music (besides the bed music of smooth jazz that even the protagonist begins to hate) with some indie-rock mixed into the fray. Ironically, I can allude to the fact the music just made the film much funnier, even aside from the crazy zombie eating and existential metaphors presented.

WTAF Moments
My favorite segment of my reviews has to be WTAF moments because I type things like this: WHO THE FUCK LET’S THEIR DAUGHTER MAKE OUT HARD IN THE LIVING ROOM IN FRONT OF THEIR PARENTS?!?! Apparently, Maury and Geenie for the fact at hand their daughter was recently deceased. I have never seen such ridiculousness poured into a zombie film since Dawn of the Dead was released in theatres. Let me tell you, that is some CRRRAAAAAZZZY shit going on in the movie. Sorry, once again, readers who do not condone vulgarity. Another scene I found slightly disturbing was Zach and Beth having sex on a playground. First of all, the girl is dead, so this already didn’t sit well with me like the time I watched Twilight (worst mistake ever). Second, I would love to point out that seriously dude, did you not have sex with her while she was alive? I mean, come on…Third, it is never justifiable to eat one’s own parents after you’ve become a full-fledged zombie. That’s problematic for both your relationship with your significant other and your family. Why am I talking about this like it is a therapy session? It’s the zombie apocalypse. Not Death Valley (RIP to a great show). It’s funny how I was freaking out about the daughter make-out session in your family’s presence then I was the other things…ahem. Shall we move on?

Final Words

Overall, the film was given 3.5 out of 5, in terms of quality, storytelling, comedic effect, and its position on how far some people would go for love. It’s…too…much…However, I will say in this current modern age and the way society lives now. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a Zom-Apoc that goes down where we would witness a few people trying their hardest to feign for a possible dead loved one that they once had surrounding them in their lives. To critique, I think my favorite scene was between Kendrick, DeHaan, and Plaza outside of the breakfast diner discussing who is who. I just cracked up straight out. Thanks cult zombie films. You’ve made another Valentine’s Day worthwhile.

Oh, and from this point on, I think I’ll add the trailers for those who wish to watch these films I review. Go ahead and check it out below.