Maggie
Official Tagline: “After his daughter (Abigail Breslin) is infected with a virus that transforms her into a zombie, a small-town farmer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) will stop at nothing to save her.”
Written by: John Scott 3
Directed by: Henry Hobson
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin
Maggie is a thoughtful film with some good under stated performances, especially by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is very effective as a parent struggling with the fact his teenage daughter is dying or even worse becoming a flesh eating zombie and seeing his livelihood as a farmer going up in flames as society breaks down around them. Abigail Breslin gives a solid turn [She usually does] as the afflicted daughter grappling with the knowledge she is changing and not for the better.
If you go into the theater expecting a George Romero gore fest or a Walking Dead, “man is his own worst enemy” kind of story, then Maggie may not be for you. This is a character study exploring what it means to be human, the bonds of family and facing death. The movie has a slow steady pace, which in some films isn’t a good thing, but it works here and allows the audience the chance to get to know these characters and to understand the choices they make. The direction and cinematography add to the feeling of isolation and loss without creating a sense of depression for the audience.
I must add that I was very surprised by Arnold’s acting ability and found myself wondering what he may have accomplished in his younger days if he had been given some film parts that tested his acting more than his action star persona. I do recommend Maggie and think you will enjoy seeing Arnold in a very different role than you expect to see him in.
Screen Writer Ink
Fade In Is Just The Beginning