Reviewed by Forris Day Jr.
I enjoy a good zombie movie and “Melvin” is just that! Melvin Purvis, a Super Nerd if you will, is bullied in school by everyone, from the jocks to the cheerleaders. He takes it all in stride until one day a joke goes bad and Melvin is accidentally killed. Three years later he comes back from the dead and enlists the help of another not so hip college student, Norton Pincus. Norton at first is unwilling to help but eventually the nerdy duo go on a gory killing spree to take revenge on Melvin’s killers!
This is a fun movie full of heart. Well produced with lots of very creative special effects and cool looking zombies. The many one liners will keep you chuckling to yourself throughout the flick. Well written and superbly shot, you’ll forget that “Melvin” is indeed a low budget film. I enjoyed watching the extras too which include some behind the scenes video and a fake trailer for a movie within the movie called “Night of the Driller”.
The cast was full of top notch actors who really bring their characters to life and make them believable. Melvin played by Leif Fuller, who is also co-producer of the movie, is spot on as the vengeful nerd whose only focus is getting back at those who did him wrong and Patrick O’Driscoll is awesome playing Norton, Melvin’s unwilling partner in crime. Lily Maher is wonderful as Norton’s sexy and brainy (but bad taste in men) sister Wendy.
One of my favorite special effects takes place in a package store. During a fight scene a zombie woman is thrown to the ground and is impaled through the back of the neck and out her throat with a bottle which sprays beer as she gurgles her last zombie breath. I loved it!
If you are a fan of zombie films get “Melvin”, you’ll be glad you did. As independent film makers there is much to be learned from this group who were able to make a really good movie on a very small budget.
Zombies have feelings too!
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
