If you’re a fan of zombie movies, this one should be next on your list. It's a live-action Japanese film based on a manga series with the same title. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the greatest zombie movie ever made—or even of the decade or year—but it’s definitely better than many recent ones. The story follows a familiar formula: a zombie outbreak causes widespread chaos and triggers a survival game. What sets this film apart are the characters and some truly memorable scenes that elevate it. Hideo, also known as Hero, is a manga artist who won a “best newcomer” award several years ago. Now in his thirties and looking for a career breakthrough, he experiences setbacks when his book is rejected and he breaks up with his girlfriend. Soon after, strange events begin to occur around him, and as the city descends into madness, he teams up with a random schoolgirl to escape the horror. Their journey leads them somewhere uncertain, but hopefully to safety. Later on, some unexpected turns happen that bring the story to a close. The script wasn’t particularly impressive, but the filmmaking itself was strong, including the performances. The actors clearly gave it their all. The action sequences involving conflict between humans and zombies were exceptionally well-done. As someone accustomed to this kind of theme in movies, I'm not easily scared by them—nor am I by supernatural horror films. That’s a limitation on my end; if I hadn’t seen so many similar movies, the film would have likely been much more frightening. Nevertheless, I found it enjoyable because overall, it provided good entertainment. > "What you seek isn't dream anymore! It's delusion. Only a small, special group of people can achieve success." I don’t understand Japanese beyond a few basic words, but I noticed they didn’t use the word “zombie.” They refer to it as the virus responsible for the outbreak, ZQN. I’m not sure what that abbreviation stands for, but I gathered something like "Zokyun," which seems to mean "bang"—like a sudden sharp sound. Regarding the film itself, the characters are unpredictable; you can't necessarily trust anyone except the main character. Not just because of infection, but due to their intentions—it’s more about survival of the fittest, showcasing typical human weaknesses like greed for power. After Hideo, Hiromi, the schoolgirl, is also a lead, but there wasn't much depth to her role; it remained quite mysterious, and I was hoping for some explanation that never arrived. That was disappointing, though it could hint at a possible sequel. I hope they make one because this film has been very well-received. The details in the film were impressive, even the small ones. They didn’t just focus on the human characters; they also gave the zombies strength and unique ways to attack survivors, like athletes. So, they largely avoided traditional zombie movie tropes, bending the rules to create a distinctive product designed to entertain viewers—often humorously. The film was shot in beautiful locations, especially during the second half. It reimagines the zombie genre, moving beyond earlier films influenced by superheroes and space-age action. It’s a great combination of comedy, action, and thriller—I laughed more at this than I have at recent full-length comedies starring top comedians. Since it isn't remake material, I don’t expect Hollywood to do anything with it. As I often say, regardless of what films I watch from around the world, I usually prefer Japanese or French movies. It was a bit long, but ultimately worth watching. I'm not overwhelmingly recommending it, but this film was genuinely good, particularly if you appreciate black comedy. _7/10_

Source on TMDB