Yummy (2020)
The tagline "Facelifts, Boob Jobs And Zombies" says it all in regards to Yummy, Lars Damoiseaux's directorial debut which is streaming as part of the 2020 Fantasia International Film Festival. Following a young couple who find themselves in a fight for their lives as the hospital they are visiting for plastic surgery gets overtaken by zombies, Yummy is a bloody and often gross zombie thriller that accomplishes exactly what it tries to.
When it comes to being a zombie thriller, Yummy understands exactly what it can accomplish and wisely doesn't reach beyond it. Taking place in a hospital, the film makes the most of its environment offering plenty of gore and grossness. In this sense, the film is a complete success. Not only does the environment help these choices feel inspired and unique compared to others from the genre, but they are simply just fun to watch. The film also had solid pacing, always feeling as if it is moving and rarely feels as if it is stalling for the runtime. Where this is easily the most memorable and standout portion of the film, it also dances with the idea of being a deeper more socially conscious story. Especially in the first act as Alison (Maaike Neuville) has to stand up for herself and her goal to get a breast reduction surgery despite the protests of her boyfriend Michael (Bart Hollanders), the film starts to have an actual conversation regarding love and how women can view their bodies only to lose it rather quickly.
As soon as the film transitions from being a tense drama to being a horror film, this conversation fades far into the background. Even before this point however, the conversation lacked a level of craft with a really over the top set up and a lackluster introduction to the main characters. The film introduces the characters of Alison and Michael within the context of this situation not setting up their relationship or individual identities. Throughout the film, these characters felt like stand-ins for character cliches and certain reactions rather than being well-rounded characters themselves feeling overall forgettable. It isn't that these elements hurt the horror side of the film which functions just fine without these, but rather without them the film cannot go to the next level of being more than just a fun horror film.
Yummy is a film with a clear ambition but never fully embraces any deeper element to where it becomes something must-see. As a gross-out horror film, there is plenty of disgusting visuals and graphic gore to create a fun and enjoyable viewing experience. As a deeper viewing experience with a strong social commentary or purpose, it is then that the film falls flat.
Yummy is a film with a clear ambition but never fully embraces any deeper element to where it becomes something must-see. As a gross-out horror film, there is plenty of disgusting visuals and graphic gore to create a fun and enjoyable viewing experience. As a deeper viewing experience with a strong social commentary or purpose, it is then that the film falls flat.