ZombEid Movie Review: A Wildly Fun Ride for Pakistani Cinema

“ZombEid” is Pakistani cinema's first venture into the zombie genre, and it's quite a success. Nabeel Qureshi is the director, Fizza Ali Meerza is the producer and together they manage to combine horror, action, comedy and suspense in a way that feels fast, energetic and just different, a breath of fresh air for those who have been accustomed to the same formula.

The cast is stacked: Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat, Dodi Khan and Babar Ali are all in the lead, but this film is not about to be the next Train to Busan or The Last of Us. Rather, ZombEid is about fun, style, and shameless entertainment. And it nails it, at least most of the time.

Chaos on Chaand Raat

It's a pretty crazy story. All begins on Chaand Raat at an expensive gym in Karachi. It's a night of celebration and everyone's just doing their own thing, until a zombie outbreak wreaks havoc on everyone's life. One by one, the infected begin attacking people, and chaos ensues.

As the outbreak spreads, police scramble to contain it and survivors are trapped inside, scrambling to find a way out. The film doesn't waste any time getting to the madness, and by 15 minutes you're knee-deep in zombie madness. That fast opening hook immediately captures the audience and allows the movie to plunge into the horror and survival aspects without dragging its feet.

Star Power in the Middle of Mayhem is a 2013 film.Star Power in the Middle of Mayhem is a 2013 movie.Former Mr. Pakistan bodybuilder Fahad Mustafa takes the plunge to try and rebuild his life following a tragic accident. His character has weight – it gives viewers a real character to root for, even as things go wrong around him.

Mehwish Hayat is a Zumba instructor who finds herself in the epicenter of the outbreak. The chemistry between her and Mustafa brings more to the narrative, and helps balance out all of the violence and chaos with moments of heart.

However, the big surprise is from Dodi Khan. He plays the bad guy and runs with it, and it's a memorable performance. It is being touted as one of his best. He never lets things get too silly, he keeps the tension cranked up.

Babar Ali and Mani complete the ensemble, adding their own energy and humor to keep things moving.

Makeup and Visual Effects – The Real Stars

Where ZombEid really shines is in its production value. I can't say that Pakistani audiences are accustomed to this level of gory zombie make-up, blood effects and flashy presentation in their films. The makeup team gets a medal, the zombies are really scary and that's important for a horror film.

Visual effects are slick, too. Whether it's massive explosions, car wrecks, or helicopter action, it all seems like it's in a class of its own and looks pretty polished. The shooting style is influenced by graphic novels and Hollywood action movies.

The film creates its own unique style. It's dark lighting, bright colors, intense fight scenes, it's different from the more traditional, sometimes tame visuals that most local movies offer.

Sound Design – Bringing Horror to Life

ZombEid's sound design is not lacking. Every crack, scream and zombie roar sounds strong and overwhelming. The sound really adds to the horror, making it more brutal and intense.

In Pakistani films sound mixing is a weak point but this one has it right. The violence and jump scares were more impactful, and the suspense is thick due to the audio.

A Pakistani movie genre revolution.

Typically, Pakistani movies are limited to romance, family drama or comedy. That's why ZombEid is so bold, it's taking a big chance to venture into horror and zombies in a big commercial release. The film has been well received by the people online as it has broken the mold and given some international flavor.

Yeah, there's some cheesy lines and over-the-top moments, but people don't really mind because the movie is pretty fun throughout.

Where ZombEid Stumbles

But it's not perfect, either. Some scenes are unnecessarily extended and the pace slows down in the middle. Police conversation can sometimes be dull, as if it's just padding. Sometimes, the romance and emotional moments feel forced, and don't have the same impact as the more intense horror scenes.

Karachi is also presented in rose-coloured glasses, and is more polished than it really is. ZombEid is looking for that clean, cinematic look, which earlier Nabeel Qureshi films had captured the raw vibe of the city.But these problems don't sink the film.

ZombEid– The New Zombie Verse

ZombEid is gory, wild, stylish and seriously fun. It's not a remake of the zombie genre, but it is a fresh step for Pakistani cinema.

The filmmakers know what audiences are looking for in a zombie movie: scares, blood, suspense, action and a lot of fun. More significantly, they show how local filmmakers can try new genres and still produce something that's marketable.

For those who are tired of the typical Eid dramas and looking for something completely different, ZombEid is for you. It is the movie that will shake up the Pakistani cinema. The risk was worth it—the excitement, scares and energy make ZombEid a must see on the big screen.