Wild Zero Movie Review by Gabe Toro

     The protagonist is Ace, an upbeat youngster with a sincere belief that rock’n’roll is still VERY alive, contrary to popular opinion. He is a hardcore fan of the rock group Guitar Wolf, a hyperkinetic, real-life Japanese punk band with furiously noisy riffs and ecstatically defiant lyrics. Backstage at one concert, where he sees the band being threatened by a wily promoter who questions the viability of rock’n’roll, he charges in, championing rock’s cause and providing a distraction. The band escapes, indebted to Ace, they claim all he has to do is yell for their help and they will come.

     Ace eventually moves on to a small town where he meets the sweet, unassuming Tobio. Ace is smitten, and Tobio marvels at Ace’s (made up) guitar chops and rock’n’roll pedigree. However, when she becomes stuck in town during a zombie rampage and subsequently reveals a disturbing secret to Ace, he buckles under the pressure and flees.

     After some soul searching, he eventually calls Guitar Wolf for help. The band arrives, all in motorcycles and sheens of cool, with leather jackets and slicked back hair. They are old school punks, for sure. They begin to battle the zombies using a wide variety of weapons and methods. But what about Ace? Can he fall for Tobio? Does he truly believe in rock’n’roll?

     This film is certainly for those with a taste for gory comedies. "Wild Zero" motors along at a rock’n’roll pace, never easing up. With great music, a distinctively nightmarish visual style and loads of blood, it proves to be the best zombie picture of the past few years

- Gabe Toro