There’s no denying that zombie films are one of the most popular sub-genres in horror today. Over the last few years alone, the undead have starred in numerous TV shows, films, and video games and don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Because of this oversaturation, it takes a really powerful film to break through, grab audiences, and, even better, give us something we haven’t quite seen before. That is where The Cured comes in.
Written and directed by David Freyne, with Ellen Page as one of the producers and lead actresses, The Cured had its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Although Freyne has seen success with his short film releases, this is his debut feature film. The Cured also stars Sam Keeley, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Paula Malcomson.
Set in Ireland, The Cured shows a world that has experienced a serious zombie outbreak from a virus called the “Maze virus.” While 25% of the affected population are still infected, a cure successfully brought 75% back from infection. The formerly infected (“The Cured”) find themselves able to remember everything they did, including everyone they killed, and now face a population of people who have never been infected and look down on them.
Dating back to George A. Romero’s groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead, most zombie films and shows come with a heavy dose of “humanity is the real threat” and social issues. The Cured explores those issues as well, with scenes mirroring events, propaganda, and protests that we see around the world every day. It differs from other zombie films by pitting the (formerly) infected against the never infected in a whole new way. And, it is vastly more complicated. Imagine living through actual hell, losing your loved ones and possible way of life, only to have to integrate with those responsible, who will never be held accountable for their actions. On the flip side, those coming back from infection have the knowledge and memories of their murderous actions and get treated like rabid animals who can never again be trusted within society. This is the setting that Freyne successfully gives us, and it’s an emotional one.
The cinematography (Piers McGrail) and gritty scheme are highly effective, giving an uneasy feeling regardless of what is happening on screen. While I expected heavy-hitter Ellen Page to steal the show, the entire cast shined in their own way. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor’s performance as the alpha leader of the formerly infected was incredibly impressive and downright terrifying. Sam Keeley plays a haunted and guilt-ridden man who has been cured, while Page plays his sister-in-law, who lost her husband during the outbreak, leaving her on her own with a small child. Paula Malcomson is a doctor whose personal loss is motivating her to continue to find a cure for the remaining 25% infected. The dark connection and tension between Vaughan-Lawlor and Keeley doesn’t let up, making any shared screen time between these two actors unsettling.
With all of this being said, I fear that some audiences will go into the film with the wrong expectations. While this is a film that falls into the zombie sub-genre, it is largely a film about the social issues and drama that comes after. That’s not to say that there isn’t action. In fact, there are some incredibly tense and surprising scenes, especially in the last bit, but that isn’t the main focus. What Freyne and his crew deliver is a unique, thought-provoking story that is beautifully executed.
The Cured will be available in theaters and On Demand February 23rd.
