George’s Intervention (2009)

-Review by Nic Brown-

Addiction can be a tough thing to beat. Alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gambling, caffeine… the list goes on and on. Sometimes addiction is real, sometimes it’s an excuse, but whatever the case, people suffering from an addiction may need help, even if they’re dead. Just ask George, he’s a zombie and he has a problem, he’s addicted to human flesh.

GEORGE’S INTERVENTION is a horror/comedy from director J.T. Seaton (who also co-wrote the film with Brad Hodson) that pokes fun at the popular zombie genre in a refreshingly original way. A quick grade-school style informative film about zombies sets the stage for a world where the dead rise from the grave, and with the exception of an aversion to direct sunlight, go about their business mostly as usual. George (Carlos Larkin) isn’t adapting to his new lifestyle, or perhaps more aptly, deathstyle, very well. He’s got a craving for the other white meat (not pork) so his friends and family decide to employ a professional interventionist named Barbara (Lynn Lowry) to help them step in and break George of his flesh craving habit, like it or not.

The intervention party consists of George’s sister Francine (Shannon Hodson), his best friend Ben (Peter Stickles), his ex-girlfriend Sarah (Women of Horror featured actress Michelle Tomlinson) and her current boyfriend Steve (Eric Dean), who is quick to point out that he’s only there as moral support for Sarah. The group, along with Barbara, shows up at George’s place one afternoon and announces that no one is leaving until George admits he has a problem and agrees to seek help.

The fact that no one is leaving doesn’t mean that no one is coming in, and during the course of the day, Mormon missionaries, a sales man, friends who think it’s a party, and strippers all show up. This would lead to a very crowded house of people, except that someone is killing them off one by one, and all fingers (not to mention knives and forks) are pointing at George. George’s friends may have shown up to help, but unless they figure out what’s going on, they are all just entrées on the menu.

GEORGE’S INTERVENTION is a refreshing breath of life into a genre that has been overplayed to the nth degree over the past few years. The story is funny with an excellent blend of subtle humor, inside jokes, and plays on the zombie mythos. However, Seaton doesn’t disappoint the horror fan base by sacrificing on the blood and gore in favor of laughs. Guts fall, blood splatters, limbs are severed and more than one body part ends up on a dinner plate. Seaton’s world also doesn’t give up on the idea of brainless zombies as a direct threat to the living either. In his story, they are like the second class citizens of the zombie world; usually the victim of brain death, they are mindless eating machines instead of functioning and intelligent, albeit dead, members of society.

In addition to the strong story, GEORGE’S INTERVENTION has a remarkably talented cast that allows the blend of horror and humor to work in this film where it fails in others. Leading the cast is Carlos Larkin. His portrayal of George the zombie is brilliant, especially the use of his eyes to convey his message, whether it’s hunger, apathy, or the torch he’s still carrying for Sarah. Lynn Lowry steals almost every scene she’s in with her slapped on smile and overly enthusiastic nature. Michelle Tomlinson is also great as the frustrated ex-girlfriend Sarah; sexy, caring and sarcastic. Also look for cameos by some other horror favorites like Scream Queen Brinke Stevens and Troma Studios founder Lloyd Kaufman. Women of Horror featured actress Victoria De Mare even shows up long enough to become a very original blue plate special! If you are a fan of zombie movies, or just in the mood for a healthy dose of gore with your laughs, check out GEORGE’S INTERVENTION and ask yourself is now the right time for an intervention? The answer is yes!

Check out the trailer for GEORGE'S INTERVENTION at the bottom of the page!