[Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Review]Charming and fresh zombie-themed world with some flaws in the plot, but if you’re a fan of this genre, it’s worth watching!

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead An original Japanese Netflix movie about a recent graduate who is heavily exploited by his boss day by day. Before the zombie outbreak occurs, it becomes his chance to escape from his regular job and focus on completing 100 tasks before turning into a zombie.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Review

The zombie movie adaptation from the manga writer of Alice in Borderland, which has been turned into a successful Netflix series. This project is his subsequent creative masterpiece filled with abundant ideas. It was also adapted into an anime before becoming an Original Netflix film. Directed by Yûsuke Ishida and produced by the studio ROBOT, the same team behind the Alice in Borderland series.

I must start by saying that the reviewer has never read this manga before. However, I am familiar with it due to its popularity. I wanted to give it a try, but couldn’t find the time because there are many volumes and it’s not finished yet. When it comes to the movie adaptation, which lasts for 2 hours, it seems suitable for the general audience who don’t want something too lengthy. If this story is successful, it might even become a series on Netflix, as it has already gained top rankings in many countries, especially in Asia.

The standout feature of the story lies in its upbeat zombie apocalypse concept. The protagonist, Akira Tendo, portrayed by the incredibly handsome Eiji Akaso, perfectly captures the essence of the narrative. He plays the role of a young man who finds himself in a rather mundane job just a year before the world is hit by a zombie outbreak. This situation spares him from work, allowing him to compile a list of 100 things he wants to do. However, in the story, he only manages to accomplish around 10 of those items.Each of these things contributes to a positive and joyful life that couldn’t achieve in the normal world.

The storyline takes the audience through his initial hour-long adventure, showcasing what he had planned to do alone during that first hour before he starts venturing out to find companions. He assembles a team, embarks on adventures, and encounters rumors about safe zones. The narrative takes a turn as it begins to incorporate elements of the typical zombie genre, before pivoting back to the work world. During this phase, the charm and theme of the vibrant world seem to fade away. The story becomes an attempt to emphasize action and battles against multi-legged shark bosses with CGI that could be compared to B-grade movies. If it weren’t from a manga and had a comedic element, it would probably look just as bad.

The impressive part is the various well-executed zombie makeups, with many scenes being incredibly frightening. The zombies can run and jump, which adds a significant level of fear factor, despite the comedic theme. While there’s humor predominantly centered around escaping from or luring zombies with sound, rather than scenes of killing zombies – of which there are very few in the story (there are no guns in the story).

In addition to the exceptional performance of the main actor (Even though the content of the latter part may not be very good), the protagonist’s friends also bring to light the scars of their pasts that need healing in the post-apocalyptic world. This makes equally prominent. Another female lead, known for her indifference towards others, undergoes a transformation in perspective upon joining forces with them, leading her to embrace a new direction in life. These roles collectively create an entirely refreshing and vibrant world. The only shortcoming is that the actress playing the female lead lacks the allure she should possess (Mai Shiraishi).

The villain of the story, besides the zombies, is the Big boss played by Kazuki Kitamura, a renowned actor. He plays in a way that’s consistently provoking annoyance, depicting the work culture in Japan. However, in this case, he manipulates others, including subordinates, solely for his own success.

Overall, it is considered a unique and intriguing take on the zombie genre, with fresh and interesting ideas incorporated into a lively and optimistic perspective of the world. Those who already enjoy zombie movies should definitely give it a watch. However, it’s important to understand that this is a Live Action film, so the plot may have some gaps and less logical throughout.

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