An Escapist Zombie Actioner That Entertains

I love a good action horror hybrid, and I’m generally willing to suspend my disbelief and go along for the ride as long as I’m entertained. The new Netflix zombie film Ziam is an effort that requires viewers not only to suspend their disbelief, but also to turn their brains off. It’s a Thai action-horror hybrid that eschews logic and common sense in favor of delivering breakneck action sequences at regular intervals. Your mileage with this one will vary depending upon how willing you are to surrender to the ridiculous and improbable nature of the narrative. 

The film unfolds in a dystopian landscape where climate change has led to a global resource shortage. The proceedings catch up with Singh (Prin Suparat), a former Muay Thai fighter who springs into action when his lady friend, Rin (Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich), is caught in the middle of a zombie outbreak at the hospital where she works. He willingly enters the quarantine zone in a selfless attempt to protect her from harm’s way, putting himself in grave danger in the process. As he punches and kicks his way to Rin, Singh encounters a vulnerable young man called Buddy (Wanvayla Boonnithipaisit) and takes him under his wing. When Singh, with Buddy in tow, finally finds his way to Rin, they must attempt to escape the premises before the hospital self-destructs.

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Though the film is ridiculous and farfetched, director Kulp Kaljareuk succeeds somewhat effectively in his core conceit, which is to entertain. The zombies he puts before us are some of the most imposing I’ve seen in recent memory. The way they move and the speed at which they do so left me feeling unnerved and invigorated. Additionally, the action scenes are well-rendered, and the fast-paced fight sequences feel like they could have been lifted from a video game. Not to mention, the pacing is intense and unflinching. Singh is a one-man ass-kicking machine who puts on an undeniably entertaining show as he goes head-to-head with the infected in his quest to protect his charges. 

With all that said, Singh is positioned as impervious to almost everything, as if he has some superhuman ability to evade infection and escape mortal danger without breaking a sweat. While his unstoppable nature is initially entertaining, that type of invulnerability is often best suited for villainous characters. When an antagonist possesses superhuman strength, it creates conflict for the protagonist and adds value to the narrative. Singh is so tenacious, however, that he begins to read like a caricature. He’s like Superman without the benefit of Kryptonite. It’s still compelling to watch him do what he does, but he is largely robbed of an arc in the process. Time and time again, Singh proves unrealistically invulnerable, which eventually becomes tedious. 

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Singh’s indestructible nature becomes more and more unrealistic as the third act progresses. The ending even defies the laws of physics, robbing the film of emotional depth and watering down the messaging in the process. Seeing as manmade climate change helped pave the way for the zombie outbreak in the first place, it feels like a missed opportunity to let the bulk of the core characters escape relatively unscathed. I was expecting the flick to function more like an admonition about the future consequences of our present actions, but that piece doesn’t come full circle.

As much fun as I had with the rip-roaring actioner, I ultimately came away with mixed feelings. I enjoyed Ziam enough to recommend it to anyone looking to turn off their brain and escape for 90 minutes. Yet I can’t help but think that even a film firmly steeped in fantasy should ground itself when possible. Ziam never does. In going so far over the top, the flick robs itself of replay value and leaves some potentially compelling themes unexplored. 

If you think Ziam sounds like your cup of tea, you can find it streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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