The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

There's a type of parasitic fungus found in tropical climates called Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis, or O. unilateralis for short, that infects a certain species of ant and alters the insects behavior to suit its own needs. It basically, for lack of a better word, zombifies (ugh) them. I bring this up because festival favorite The Girl with All the Gifts is, to my knowledge, the only film wherein zombification comes about do to a fungus in lieu of the usual viral or biochemical explanation.

It's the not-too-distant future, and the world has been ravaged by a fungal infection that transforms its victims into blood-thirsty zombies (here given the adorable moniker of 'Hungeries'). In a secure government facility in the English countryside resides a group of children born with the disease that have the ability to ignore it most of the time --until they're hungry, that is-- and a mixed staff of military personnel, teachers, and a few doctors working on a cure by occasionally dissecting said children. When the fence surrounding the location fails only six people manage to escape; a sergeant, two enlisted men, a teacher, the head doctor (played by 6-time Oscar nominee Glenn goddamn Close!), and Melanie, the titular girl with all the gifts and played beautifully by newcomer Sennia Nanua. Their destination? London and, hopefully, rescue.

 Based on a 2014 sci-fi novel by Liverpool author M.R. Carey, this is the perfect antidote do those who still suffer from something I coined a few years ago as 'zombie fatigue,' which is regarded as a general lack of enthusiasm whenever the word "zombie" is uttered in film, TV, novel or video game. Instead of the same cliched Dawn of the Dead ripoff we're usually stuck with, The Girl with All the Gifts is methodical and thoughtful. The direction by British TV veteran Colm McCarthy is impressive without being showy and the gore, despite being sparingly used, is used well when we do see it.

A new take on old tropes, with flavors from 28 Days Later and I Am Legend thrown in for good measure, The Girl with All the Gifts is not just the best zombie movie, but the best zombie-related thing I've seen in quite some time.