THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503020052
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
``THE WALKING DEAD'' is a misleading title, suggesting that this might be a slasher-horror entry. Instead, it is a horror film of a different nature. The film is set in the jungles of Vietnam in 1972, depicting one squad's attempts to stay alive, even as they describe themselves as ``the walking dead.''
The cynicism and negativism of the title is accurate, though. It is reflected in every character, quite understandably in this war.
In most ways, this is a routine war picture, complete with all the cliches of the genre dating back to World War II. The stereotypes might well be lift-outs from the squad in 1949's ``Battleground'' - varied types thrown together by the demands and rigors of war.
There is the naive small-town kid, the admirable family man, the tough sergeant who berates his men for their own good, the love-sick lad who gets a Dear John letter and, of course, the deranged psychotic.
What gives the film some particular interest is its lofty claim that it reflects ``the African-American experience in Vietnam.'' It is a too-general and pretentious claim.
Nonetheless, there is some fine acting by a quartet of leads who work hard and largely succeed in breathing life into the stereotypes.
Preston A. Whitmore II, a Detroit native, admits that he wrote the script in just 14 days. The rush shows. His characters spout the most obvious cliches as if they were new. For the most part, they use the vernacular of 1990s boyz 'n the hood rather than 1970s recruits.
The four lead characters tell their stories, via quickie flashbacks, and all suggest they joined the Marines to escape the evils of the United States itself. The sense of time and place that was so evident in Vietnam films like ``Platoon,'' ``Apocalypse Now'' and even the overrated ``The Deerhunter'' is largely missing.
In spite of the persistently negative view of life on the streets back in the United States, there is a good deal of talk about what it means to be a Marine.
The scriptwriter was a Marine and, in spite of the social cynicism of his characters, doesn't seem to have the same bitterness about Vietnam that, for example, Oliver Stone displayed in both ``Platoon'' and ``Born on the Fourth of July.''
The platoon is sent on a suicide mission to retrieve any POWs who might be left in an abandoned Viet Cong camp. After a disastrous arrival, the only survivors are four blacks and a white psychotic.
Most regrettable are little inconsistencies, such as the Dear John letter, which is miraculously delivered in the middle of the isolated jungle.
None of the simplicities detracts from the film's several intense and charismatic performances. Joe Morton (still well-remembered as the alien in ``The Brother From Another Planet'') is cast as a former pastor who now is a disillusioned, but highly competent, leader. Allen Payne scores as the most bitter and cynical member of the group. Joe Brooks is the naive one who joined to impress his girlfriend.
The acting keeps us interested, but there is too much that is commonplace and hackneyed to make this a unique statement about ``the Vietnam experience.'' It is the effort itself that is somewhat unique. MEMO: MOVIE REVIEW
``The Walking Dead''
Cast: Joe Morton, Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin, Vonte Sweet, Roger
Floyd
Director and Writer: Preston A. Whitmore II
Music: Gary Chang
MPAA rating: R (language, violence, brief nudity)
Mal's rating: two stars
Locations: Chesapeake Square in Chesapeake; Military Circle 6 and
Main Gate in Norfolk ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JEFF KATZ, Savoy Pictures
From left, Eddie Griffin, Vonte Sweet, Allen Payne, Roger Floyd and
Joe Morton play GIs in Vietnam in ``The Walking Dead.''
by CNB