Movie Review
From Well Go USA Entertainment, The Loneliest boy in the World releases in theaters on October 14th and on Digital on October 18th.
THE LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD is billed as a modern fairytale—except with zombies. When the sheltered and unsocialized Oliver is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet. However, when he awakens the morning after his excavating escapades, he discovers that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight, launching them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbors, classmates and social workers alike.
If Wes Anderson were to take a David Lynch film, run it through a Disney filter, set it in Anytown USA but film it in Manchester UK, then add a color pallet from the early 80s, you might wind up with The Loneliest Boy in the World. A horror comedy that could easily fall into the trap of being self-aware in it’s campiness but gracefully sidesteps this trap.
It’s a brightly colored fantastical take on the zombie genre with a sitcom twist. Max Harwood plays Oliver, a naive, sheltered boy set on his own after the tragic loss of his overprotective mother.
Under court supervision, Oliver is asked to make friends or face the real possibility of being institutionalized. Unfortunately, the only people Oliver feels comfortable talking to are dead.
The cartoonish color pallet, settings, and locations ease the transition into the absurd without becoming a farce. Director Martin Owen takes his time getting to the horror elements, giving the audience time to acclimate to the waters before dropping them off into the deep end.
Ashley Benson and Max Harwood
The Loneliest boy in the World
We are treated to a series of unlikely events, from a plane crash and auto accident to grave digging, culminating in our hero coming into his own. Character development and depth are implied rather than executed, but that’s part of the film’s loose charm.
While some of the characters can be a little grand or bombastic, Max Harwood’s Oliver is more subdued, conveying a naivety that does not see the horror that should come with having a surrogate zombie family.
There are a couple of holes in the story. However, if this is a modern fairytale, you can ignore them just the same as you would a woman living in a shoe or bears eating porridge at a table in chairs.
If you’re looking to introduce someone to the horror genre without putting them off with gore and violence and don’t mind a little romance to boot, The Loneliest Boy in the World may be your cup of tea.
