Kevin Woods reviews “Automaton Transfusion”

OK, we’ve all seen our fair share of zombie flicks. And in the independent film world, the market is all but oversaturated with them. Yes, its safe to say we need to let this genre rest in peace for a while….you know, give it time to get its legs back underneath it, and come back with some fresh and original ideas. These things come and go in cycles: you have westerns, for example. Every few years some big, badass blockbuster western reinvigorates the genre, then you see a shitload of new westerns hit for a while. But then it quietly goes away for a few years, until we all get to itching for a new badass western. We’ve been hit with so many zombie movies over the last few years, I feel its time to just retire them for a while. Now, I’m not saying this because of the film I’m reviewing, Automaton Transfusion….no, this is a pretty good flick. But I think I’m just burned out on zombie flicks, and I know I’m not alone.

But on to the review.

AUTOMATON TRANSFUSION is a welcome addition to the zombie film cannon. It’s a cool flick. It’s got everything a zombie flick needs to keep you entertained. So, no, I’m not gonna knock this flick and blame it for being burned out on zombie flicks. If I don’t see another zombie flick for quite some time, at least I went out on a high note.

A group of friends are on their way to see a band with a cool name (Dancefloor Tragedy). Once they get to the town they quickly notice that something strange is afoot. Yep. Zombie time. And for the next 70 some odd minutes its all about surviving the zombie onslaught and figuring out what the hell is going down.

While it IS an independent movie and the budget sometimes shows, it never falters and gives the fans of this genre what they want. Flesh ripping, blood spraying, the whole nine. It’s a gory good time. On top of that, the camera work is flashy and fun, giving the movie a true sense of urgency and terror. Kudos to director Steven Miller for delivering on a well directed, fun and zany zombie flick, especially when there are so many SHIT zombie flicks hitting the market nowadays. Miller infused a lot of fun into this flick.

The acting…..hey, it ain’t bad! Props to Garrett Jones for a standout performance. Everyone hit all the right marks and made their characters believable.

Hey, this flick ain’t gonna win any Oscars, folks, but it is what it is, and it does the job it set out to do: entertain my ass. I dug it. Rank this as a Killer Film!