Yahoo Movies Anna and the Apocalypse is a must-see Christmas movie
If we told you that one of the best Christmas movies of recent years would be a high-school musical set in Scotland during a zombie apocalypse, you'd be forgiven for thinking we'd got started on the sherry a bit too early.
Yet, Anna and the Apocalypse manages to bring together all of its elements into a winning blend of heart, humour and huge musical numbers, making it a must-see Christmas movie.
Adapted from BAFTA-winning short Zombie Musical, the movie doesn't go straight to the gore but starts off like your usual high-school comedy. Anna (Ella Hunt) and her friends are about to graduate, leading her best friend John (Malcolm Cumming) to moon about his unrequited love for her, while Anna has a big secret she's hiding from her dad Tony (Mark Benton).
Watch Anna and the Apocalypse on Prime Video
But all that pales in comparison to the zombie apocalypse that hits the town of Little Haven overnight, brilliantly showcased in the background as Anna and Malcolm sing about turning their lives around on the way to school. Well, until a zombie in a snowman costume interrupts their journey.
The outbreak leaves Anna, John, Steph (Sarah Swire), Chris (Christopher Leveaux) and Lisa (Marli Siu) separated from their parents. To reunite with them, they must battle the hordes of undead that have descended on Little Haven and they'll use anything in their quest for survival – even a showtune.
What's remarkable about Anna and the Apocalypse is how it makes each of its elements work on their own terms, with them all then combining into a terrific whole.
Related: Anna and the Apocalypse is the zombie Christmas musical we ALL need right now
If you're after a musical, then not even a zombie could get the likes of 'Hollywood Ending' and 'Soldier At War' out of your brain. Need a horror fix? There are plenty of effective set pieces, including one involving a garden centre, to give you chills and plenty of gore.
And if all you want is a high-school comedy, you'll get it with the believable and well-rounded main characters, as well as a dash of sweet romance with the delightful pairing of Chris and Lisa.
The real sign of the movie's success, though, is that as much as it delivers the joyful musical thrills, it also packs in plenty of emotion as it doesn't hold back on the gut punches. It's a zombie apocalypse, after all, so there will be deaths, but you might be surprised at how much they affect you.
While they might blindside you, they aren't done for the sake of a cheap shock; the deaths are beautifully crafted for maximum impact and you will cry.
There's also a tragic tale behind the scenes as the idea for the movie was spawned by Scottish filmmaker Ryan McHenry, the man behind that Ryan Gosling cereal Vine meme. He was developing the movie when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer. He seemed to have beaten it in 2014, only for it to return, with McHenry sadly passing away in 2015.
Co-writer Alan McDonald continued to work on the movie along with the producers to ensure it would get made in McHenry's honour.
It's likely that's part of why Anna and the Apocalypse hits so hard, but McDonald and director John McPhail have ensured that the joy from the original short is still front and centre. That's helped by a wonderful cast and while established stars like Paul Kaye – who gets his own evil number as the horrid school administrator Mr Savage – and Mark Benton do great work, it's the younger cast members who stand out the most.
If there's any justice, this will prove to be a star-making role for Ella Hunt, who puts in a flawless turn as Anna. That's not to dismiss the likes of Malcolm Cumming and Marli Siu who all nail their big moments, but Hunt shines brightest as the movie's lead with her charisma carrying it all the way through.
To be a bit of a grinch, a couple of songs in Anna and the Apocalypse could have been cut with little effect, yet that doesn't hurt it too much. It's the freshest zombie offering since Shaun of the Dead and just as successful with its tonal shifts, making it the perfect early Christmas present.
Anna and the Apocalypse is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
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