Fido
Review by Peter Syslo

I’ll start off by saying that FIDO (2006) was a breath of much needed fresh air; I think that it is one of the best horror movies of 2007 and actually one of the best movies, overall, of 2007. It is a cross-genre film; hence, it is difficult to place it solely in the category of horror - the film does have the dominating horror element, but it is also a biting satire, a romance, and an action film. Our neighbors to the north gave us a delightful treat and the movie really works, on many levels.

FIDO is a Canadian production that is directed by Andrew Currie and is co-written by Currie and Robert Chomiak. The film stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker, K’Sun Ray, Tim Blake Nelson, and Henry Czerny.

The movie is about a family, The Robinsons, who adopt a zombie, Fido, as a pet. The time period is the 1950s, with a post-zombie-war society that has learned to control and domesticate the living dead. Having your own “zombie” is sort of a status symbol, with safety guaranteed by the head of the national zombie-security agency (Czerny). The Robinsons (Moss, Baker, Ray), despite trepidation, learn to live with Fido (Connolly), but there is trouble when he kills a neighborhood woman and two adolescent bullies. With the help of their eccentric neighbor, Mr. Theopolis (Nelson), The Robinsons sort out the whole situation and learn the truth about zombie domestication, with the film ending on an optimistic note.

Overall, FIDO is a great balance of different genres, in the style of a 1950s film. Although the basic themes are not necessarily new, the execution of the story, the production quality, and the fabulous acting really do elevate the movie to a higher plane – it is much more than just a “zombie picture”. I tend to think of it as being in the category of PAN’S LABYRINTH – it takes horror in a new direction, but it is not solely a horror film. At the end of the day, I feel that FIDO reserves the right to be among the Romero films – it is as deep and enjoyable as any “DEAD” film.

As I hinted at before, the film looks beautiful and it has that perfect 1950s atmosphere (much like the original BACK TO THE FUTURE). The whole zombie element is done really well (all the usual zombie rules apply) and there are some moments of true gore, as you see infected people chowing down on innocent humans. The satire is truly great and although it is not knee-slapping comedy, it is truly witty and clever, which I feel fits perfectly with the tone of the picture (it is like the humor in SHAUN OF THE DEAD) – anything more would just ruin the power of the film. Again, the social commentary is apparent but yet it is a more subversive element of the film (it is never overbearing like it was in THE TRIPPER); it is a very entertaining depiction of war, materialism, capitalism, decency, social acceptance, etc.

The acting is great, across the board; Billy Connolly is definitely the best in the film. He brings a warmth to the part of FIDO and the comedy just plays so well off of him (at one point he goes after a bully in a little shack – you see the shack moving from side to side, like in a “Little Rascals” show). Also, it is amazing how much Connolly could convey with just facial expressions and grunts/groans. K’Sun Ray is also a standout, as Timmy Robinson – this is probably one of the best performances that I have seen from a child actor. However, my personal favorite of the film is Tim Blake Nelson as Mr. Theopolis - he is just perfect as the eccentric bachelor who keeps a female zombie as a pet/girlfriend. Neslon plays this part in such a way that it reminds you of this iconic, suave, devil-may-care kind of character in 1950s-1960s fil ms; he is the friendly rebel of the movie, going against popular culture and not caring what people think of his “arrangement” with his zombie (in one scene he sips martinis in his front yard while his zombie girlfriend massages him). Theopolis has a good heart, wishes to help Timmy, and he is perhaps the most honest person in the film, besides Timmy and Fido.

Cutting to the chase: FIDO is a good watch and it is one of the best films of the past year. However, don’t expect a total zombie film – it is not a tale of zombie carnage and it is not a traditional horror movie. Again, it is a mix of several genres, built upon a satirical foundation. If you like retro-1950s films (PLEASANTVILLE, BACK TO THE FUTURE), 50s inspired drive-in fare (THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW), satires like SHAUN OF THE DEAD, or any 1950s-type monster movie, then you might like the film. If you are a die-hard zombie-gore fan or you like straightforward horror films that are just plain horror, it may not be your thing. But, if you are looking for something different or have a craving to see something new, but don’t exactly know what you want to see, check out this movie – it is very satisfying, deep, and hugely entertaining.