There was a lull in the zombie subgenre for many years before The Walking Dead premiered. After the show’s success, the market was flooded with films, TV shows, TWD spin-offs, and video games, to the point of oversaturation. Many fans felt the fatigue set in. When the 2024 film Portraits of the Apocalypse arrived for review, I had difficulty with it. However, it’s an anthology, which helps set it apart.
When a mysterious infection erupts across Buenos Aires, the city plunges into a nightmare of blood, panic, and death. Told through four intertwined perspectives, Portraits of the Apocalypse follows a journalist, a soldier, a desperate mother, and a mysterious stranger as they struggle to survive while society crumbles around them.
As the infected overrun the streets and civilization gives way to chaos, each must confront their own fears, desperation, and humanity. From the outbreak’s terrifying first moments to a brutal final stand, four lives collide in a haunting portrait of survival as the dead rise and the world falls apart.
By going the anthology route, directors Luca Castello, Fabian Forte, and Nicanor Loreti tell swift, tightly wound tales that lean more on suspense than on gore or action. It mostly works, though a couple of tales take a little too long to get where they need to go. Overall, it all works.
The acting is above average, and what I feared would be a cheap-looking film actually has a very distinct look. There are some really great practical effects, including the undead, who are brutal and move a bit more human-like than in other films. Despite some pacing issues, Portrait of the Apocalypse is an effective entry in the zombie subgenre.
Related: 9 Must-See Zombie Movies from the Last 10 Years
Cleopatra Entertainment brings the Spanish-language film to DVD with a slideshow and bonus trailers. It includes English subtitles as well as an English-dubbed track. I started the movie in the dubbed version, but quickly switched to the Spanish track and rolled with the subtitles. For me, it was a much better experience.
While it won’t blaze any trails, Portrait of the Apocalypse works as a solid time filler. At 76 minutes, it’s worth checking out.
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