Brain Freeze, which is making its debut at Fantastia Film Festival 25, is a super fun horror comedy — what more could you ask for?
From the very first moment that Brain Freeze started, it gave me some serious Shaun of the Dead vibes. Which is a very, very good thing. Zombie comedies can be hard to pull off, but the team behind Brain Freeze nails it. Although, I would say it is a bit more on the typical zombie movie side than the comedy side, until you take into consideration the cause of the outbreak.
In this movie rich people sure do love to golf. And because of that they want to be able to do so year round. A company develops biotech that will melt the snow and allow the grass to stay fresh, however in doing so it gets into the water and infects the entire town.
Brain Freeze is extremely unique in this genre in that the zombies themselves have green eyes and blood, and even grass that starts to grow in their holes and decaying parts. And it looks really freaking cool, too.
What Works With Brain Freeze
Going with the grass theme felt strange at first, to be perfectly honest. Because of this route, the typical red blood seen in horror movies is not there — instead it is green. Yet somehow, this really works. It allows the movie to not have to worry about the blood looking real enough, and at the same time dive into something quite unique. How often does a zombie movie teach lessons about the environment?
The story itself is very interesting, and hooked me right from the start. I found myself invested in each of the characters, and their journey. There is nothing like rooting for everyone to make it out of a zombie infested island safely.
There is a lot of great action in this movie too. The blood and gore is there, but different because of the green and the grass, versus the blood. It is still a whole lot of fun though! There are some great cinematic shots that take everything to the next level, especially during the big fight scenes.
The comedy works too, when it is there. Although I will say I expected more of it. There are two characters that show up towards the end of the film that are easily at the top of my favorites list because of how fun they are.
What Doesn’t Work With Brain Freeze
The overall story and some of the plot points are quite predictable, which is because of too much foreshadowing in the dialogue at the start. Unfortunately even the poster itself gives some parts away. However, this is a typical zombie-comedy-horror and so even if you know what it is going to happen story wise, it doesn’t ruin the fun of it.
The pacing is a little slow at first, but finds its footing quick enough. Of course it is important to set up all of the story and I understand why it takes a bit to get to the zombies, and once they come into the picture, it is a blast of a film!
Overall Thoughts
Brain Freeze is a really fun horror comedy with a solid cast and likeable characters. While some of the plot points are predictable, it doesn’t ruin the movie at all. There is a good amount of action, and some gross parts, even with the blood being green because of the storyline.
The film is unique in a lot of ways, and even with the slow start, the pacing settles in quick enough to not cause any major issues. There is some great cinematography, and a solid ending too. Overall, this movie is a total blast! It may not be perfect, but viewers are sure to have a really good time! I can see this becoming a cult classic for sure.
About Brain Freeze
As winter approaches, an exclusive Golf Club hires a Multinational biotech whose “revolutionary” fertilizer melts the snow, contaminating the water and the residents of Peacock Island, transforming them into mutants. André (15) watches as the infection spreads, leaving him orphaned and in charge of his baby sister Annie. He meets Dan, a wannabe survivalist who has taken refuge in a high-end grocery with his daughter Patricia, not so lucky. They embark on an adventure that takes them to the source of the contamination. In a race against the clock, they fight peacocks and mad scientists and finally the army itself…
Brain Freeze debuted at the 2021 Fantasia Film Festival.
Brain Freeze has a theatrical release throughout Canada starting on August 13.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.