Fido is an Excellent Black Comedy
(Not a Horror Movie)

Release: 2007
Directed by: Andrew Currie
Written by: Andrew Currie and Robert Chomiak

Starring:
Billy Connolly as Fido
Dylan Baker as Bill Robinson
Carrie-Anne Moss as Helen Robinson
K’Sun Ray as Timmy Robinson
Tim Blake Nelson as Mr. Theopolis
Sonja Bennett as Tammy
Henry Czerny as Mr. Bottoms

Let me begin by saying that this is not a horror movie. It is a light-hearted, dark comedy. But, that should not stop you from watching it. In fact, this is probably the best example of zombies being used in the metaphorical analysis of society that I have ever seen. More on that later.

The film begins with a “news reel” explaining the history of the “Zombie Wars”, how Dr. Geiger discovered that once you kill the brain you kill the zombie, and then how the same Dr. Geiger developed a collar that suspended the zombies desire to eat human flesh, thus making them able to be domesticated. Thus was born ZOMCON, a government funded company that remains in charge of the domestication and needed destruction of zombies and the safety of American towns everywhere.

Next we “meet the Robinsons”. Bill (Dylan Baker) is not a fan of zombies. During the war, at the age of 11 he had to put his father down for trying to eat him. Helen (Carrie-Anne Moss) is the wife who wants nothing more than to “keep up with the Jones’s” and the appearance of the family unit. Little Timmy (K’Sun Ray) is the child who decides to question everything because he is inquisitive like that. Helen wants a zombie. All of the neighbors have at least one and the new neighbors have six so she goes out buys one. Bill is not happy about the purchase but as long as the zombie stays outside on a leash when he is not serving Bill will let him stay. Timmy, having no interaction with his parents, slowly builds a “boy and his dog” relationship with the family zombie and even names him Fido.

Everything is going just peachy until one day at the park while playing a friendly game of fetch Fido bites Mrs. Henderson. Well, maybe “bites” isn’t strong enough - he is found by Timmy eating Mrs. Henderson’s arm. Timmy, knowing what will happen if his pet is caught, buries Mrs. Henderson after smashing her head in with a shovel. With the new Head-of-Security for the town of Willard closing in on Timmy’s secret, time is running out for the Robinsons and their new pet.

This intelligent black comedy works because of the culmination of a great script, great actors and an original hook. Take zombies and place them in a setting that is reminiscent of circa 1950’s McArthyistic fear with full Technicolor goodness.

Fido represents the epitome of the correct way to do a political movie without being overtly political. Filmmakers do not have to shove their ideals down the viewers’ throat to get their points across. Andrew Currie (director/co-writer) asks a lot of socio-political questions; How many liberties are we willing to give up in order to have a sense of security? Is any form of slavery acceptable and if so, where do you cross the line? How important is the parent/child relationship? There are many more but those are the ones that jumped out at me.

If you are looking for a Shaun of the Dead clone with gut bursting laughter and gore just for the fun of it, this is not your movie. For everyone else, Fido is a must see that will have you thinking about it for days after. Questions or comments about Fido? Contact us!

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