Cooties

This film had so many people talking because it's such a strange premise. Only so often do little children play big roles in films. More times then not this is for the best because, simply put, they are horrible actors. But 'Cooties' gets that and takes complex acting out of the equation right away. Having them instead act as target practice for the talented adult cast. This is what makes 'Cooties' so entertaining. It's clear that both the child and adult cast are having a blast with this film. And that translates through the film. It's a blast to watch. The comedy hits more then it doesn't and the unique premise is a whole lot of fun. But the standouts here are Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson. They have incredible chemistry together and their comedic timing is spot on. ​The film realizes this. It knows that every moment they spend off screen is a moment that is hurting the film. So, when it tries to kill off one of these two it's painfully obvious that they don't have the guts to go through with it. This is only confirmed with a tacked on ending in which he makes his dramatic re- entry. This happening less then ten minutes after his "death". So why was that in the film at all? ​It only hurts itself doing this. Having him comeback a couple minutes later makes his sacrifice completely meaningless. It robs itself of any weight that the scene carried. Why not just have him escape with the others? It would not have been hard to have him get away and it wouldn't have looked completely lazy either. However, I shouldn't have been surprised by this. Because the entire film operates like this. Saying one thing and doing another or not doing anything at all. Take the zombies for example. The film shows them being super smart, like cutting the power and destroying all communication devices. But it also shows them waiting to pounce until one of the characters notice them. Or making a single file line and attacking one by one. The whole run time is like this. The zombies being super smart and forcing the humans to try and get away but will (for whatever reason) eat sleeping pills when they are thrown their way. It's completely nonsensical. The longer the film runs the more illogical it becomes, only to be capped off by a ridiculously tacked on ending. 'Cooties' will certainly become a guilty pleasure. It's highly entertaining premise and hilariously gory kills make for a fun watch. But don't expect to be invested in this movie. The bland characters, horrendous plot and stupid zombie mechanics make sure that you don't have to much fun.

8.25 of 10. Excellently gross start and plot setup fades into more of a pure action, scream and gore/gross-out horror film, though there's enough ongoing comedy to keep it amusing. While it may be too much for Hobbit fans to handle, the little half-ling actor pulls off his roll well. The overall casting is both recognizable and obscure enough to make it seem like a true collection of teachers, students, and parents. Highly recommended as a chill-out film after watching something more serious like Food, Inc. (2009) or Partisan (2015). Unlike the more serious food psycho horror of Gravy (2015), this is also something with enough intellectual humor that parents can enjoy it with their tween kids as they move into their post-cooties years.

This movie was pretty great, I was laughing consistently throughout it. Rainn Wilson is a gem. He plays the classic douche bag jock but in such a refreshing and funny way. Every joke in this movie is clever and thought out. The children in the elementary school are self absorbed, obsessed with technology, and completely disrespectful to the adults which is the direction that our youth is actually headed in, if they haven't already gotten to that point so it was really relevant in that sense. There is a hobbit reference made to Elijah Wood's character that is just golden. But honestly my favorite character in the movie was Nasim Pedrad, she was the stand out for me. Everything that came out of her mouth had me laugh out loud laughing. Overall the movie is most definitely worth a watch.

'Cooties' is a hilarious horror/comedy about teachers dodging their students, who have just consumed a bad batch of chicken nuggets. Now these children are crazed, blood-thirsty zombie brats. With an all-star cast, outrageous gore, and side-splitting laughs, 'Cooties' is one of the best movies I've seen in years. Be warned: 'Cooties' earns its R-rating within the first five minutes! Expect a lot of blood and gore with this one. But if you can handle extreme bloodshed it'll be a fun ride. Unfortunately, this movie will probably turn you away from chicken FOREVER! We watched this movie at a special screening, and the entire auditorium laughed and screamed. It's not an Oscar contender; it isn't supposed to be analyzed or studied. 'Cooties' is simply a fun, bloody tale about misfit teachers battling zombie children. Grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and enjoy!