A pandemic has ravaged the world. Alone and outside the safety of the forest, Marko faces a shattered world shrouded in silence and danger.
“Beyond the Wasteland” opens in an isolated home tucked away in a large forest. Its inhabitants are the pre-teen Marko (Matej Sivakov) and his father (Sasko Kocev). The father tries to teach Marko how to cock a pistol, but the child is too weak to do it. Marko reads a fairy tale about a boy named Leaf-child who must navigate an enchanted forest and the evil spirits that haunt it. One day, while wandering, Marko encounters a child with special needs. At first, Marko is frightened, but the two quickly become friends. His mother, clutching a rifle, appears and seems kind – but it is hard to trust anyone in this fractured world. The film’s writer and director, Vardan Tozija, utilizes silence and hushed speaking, which is understandable since the undead are drawn to noises.
Like the brilliant “Girl with All the Gifts,” “Beyond the Wasteland” is more of a coming-of-age story than a horror film. However, where the former expanded on various undertones, this film is unfortunately not as compelling. It is a bit too forlorn, and the scares are more minimal than I would have expected. Some thoughtful ideas are presented throughout, but none are fully developed or explored.
Nonetheless, the direction is pretty stellar, with tracking shots, zooms, and drones that nicely capture the titular Wasteland. Aside from a father and son trying to survive a cataclysmic event, the ending also resembles Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” Some much-needed presence of light shines through the subject’s darkness. And I admire Tozija for taking a different approach to the worn-out Zombie genre by commenting on issues like nationalism and xenophobia. But, I have reached my limit for watching any more undead beings being portrayed. However, with the announcement of Danny Boyle’s upcoming third entry in the “28 Days Later” franchise, I will most likely be seated for that.
Available on Digital November 5th
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