'Mom, stop talking': I watched 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires' with my tween critic. Here's our honest review.

Yahoo

6 days ago

Lesson learned: Interrupting your tween during this Disney movie could result in shushes and eye rolls.Hello, Yahoo readers, zombies, vampires and aliens. I'm Suzy Byrne, and I've been covering entertainment in this space for over a decade.
I'll be the first to tell you I'm no hardcore cinema buff. Since I had a child, though, I've made it a point to see as many kid-friendly movies as possible. Maybe it's because I'm a big kid ✔ and love a cheerful ending ✔. But also, as a busy working parent, is there greater joy than getting two hours to turn off your phone and put up your feet while your child is fully entertained?!
So that's what this is — one entertainment reporter + her 10-year-old child + friends seeing family-friendly fare, indulging in film-themed treats and replying all to you about the experience. Welcome to kids' movie club.
Now playing: 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires'
Sometimes the best movie dates are cozy ones at home with family — though my daughter, who was trying to watch Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires with zero interruptions, may disagree.
Oh, to be a tween trying to get your Addison and Zed fix while your parents are asking annoying questions. I thought — but didn't dare say for fear of being shushed — 'Someday, someday,' you'll get to watch in silence, kiddo.
There was a lot of tween anticipation over Zombies 4, the latest installment in the Disney Channel juggernaut that began in 2018, back when its stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim were teens themselves. Now in their mid-20s and serving as executive producers on this movie, the duo, who play Addison and Zed, passes the torch to two new star-crossed vampires from rival factions: Nova (Freya Skye), the sharp, budding leader of the vampire/human hybrid daywalkers, and Victor (Malachi Barton), the charming nephew of the Vampire Eldress. The franchise's signature blend of singing, dancing, supernatural powers, romantic tension and heartfelt messaging continues.
The plot 🎬
The story starts with Zed and Addison wrapping up their first year at Mountain College. They're still in a relationship but on different paths — he's chasing football glory while she's hoping to be cheer captain. Before going to their respective summer camps, they go on a road trip, along with friends Eliza (Kylee Russell) and Willa (Chandler Kinney). Their car flips — blame a force field — and when they strike out to find help, they find themselves caught between two feuding groups: the daywalkers of Sunnyside and vampires of Shadyside.
Zed bonds with daywalker Nova, after she initially takes him to the ground with an aerobatic flip-kick. Addison wins over Victor — ('I'm not a daywalker… I'm a cheerleader!' the blonde tells him) — and he uses his powers to free her from the windstorm the vampires put her in. With Zed coaching one side and Addison the other, they work to unite the sworn enemies — and their 'lightstone' and 'darkstone' moonstones (aka crystals that connect all monsters).
Our viewing party 🍿
It was a vacation house viewing party. My daughter and I commandeered the only TV, smack in the middle of the living room, to watch. Joining us on the couch was my mostly disinterested husband, who looked up from his phone from time to time, my brother–in-law passing through the room to laugh at us and two very disinterested cats.
Our film recap in emojis
🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🐺👱🏻‍♀️/👽🎶🚗💥🏖️🌌🤺😑🎶➡️👱🏻‍♀️/🧛‍♀️➕🧛🏻🟰👎🏻❤️🥭😑➡️👱🏻‍♀️/🧛‍♀️🧛🏻👱🏻‍♀️/👽🧟‍♂️🤲🏻🎶🧩💎☀️➕💎🌙⚡️➡️🕊️🎶🥭💗
The familiar 🔁
The original Seabrook crew — zombies, an alien/human hybrid and a werewolf — who are loved by young audiences, are back to help transition the long-running story to the new, younger cast. Also returning is Zed's comedic flair, heroine Addison's optimism and her A+ hair game. The Zombies signature song and dance mix, ranging from rap to tap, including a sentimental reprise of franchise fave 'Someday,' comes at a pivotal moment. The messaging of the importance of two opposing groups uniting for the greater good is also a through line.
Yes, it's a bit saccharine sweet and a little on the nose, but it's never a bad reminder. So is the reminder to prioritize the people you love most, which Zed and Addison took to heart.
The new 🆕
The two new factions — led by the Romeo-and-Juliet-like Victor and Nova — are warring over blood fruit. Their well-choreographed dance sequences were transfixing to watch and the new songs fit the franchise vibe just right. .. One song, 'Possible,' is about passing the torch, and it's clear that Zombies 5 — which is likely to follow due to early ratings success, according to FlixPatrol — will see Donnelly and Manheim step back. Also notable: The film was shot in New Zealand, giving it a fresh backdrop and some distance from Seabrook.
Mid-movie commentary from my daughter 🧒🏻
Addison and Zed: 'I love them.' Her hair, which is blue-tipped this go-round: 'So pretty.'
The college ensemble dance number: 'They definitely worked more than one day on this.'
Nova's fire wardrobe: 'I want a top like that.'
Nova's fighting skills: 'She's taking out all those guys in a dress.' The room with puzzles that Nova and Victor go in: 'That's my favorite set. Next year, I want to have my birthday party at an escape room.' Nova's angry, overprotective dad: 'Typical movie girl dad.'
Shrimpy having a cameo in a Mountain College shirt: 'SHRIMPY!'
Mid-movie commentary from me 👩🏻
I felt some Grease vibes with Nova and Victor — à la Danny and Sandy, especially when they cut back and forth to them wistfully singing like in 'Summer Nights'. I also thought Nova looked like a young Hilary Duff.
Number of times the adults got shushed 🤫
Five — mostly for 'asking too many questions.' I'll admit it: I was annoying at the start, only having seen snippets of previous Zombies movies, and trying to figure out who all the different dance troupes are. Just when you think you get it down, you realize you're still off the mark. ('So Addison's a human?' 'No, she's an alien/human.')
My husband got more shushes than I did, including when he interrupted Nova and Victor's song and dance number duet to quip, 'This is exactly what your mom and I were like before you were born.' He got an extended shush. Note: Any story that includes 'before you were born...' is an automatic tween eye roll trigger.
My brother-in-law got more of a pass for breaking out over-the-top dance moves each time he shimmied through the living room. My daughter tried to ignore him, though he would not be deterred from doing his best sprinkler and lawn mower. (Look those up, kids.)
Appropriateness check 🎯
Totally Disney-friendly for a tween audience. Mild intensity (fangs, a few fight scenes and a car flips with no injuries) with some PG romance (kisses, hand-holding).
Funniest line 🤣
'Save the marshmallows' — which was said during the middle of a car crash.
Teaser at the end 🌊
Yes. Poor Nova and Victor couldn't have a moment of peace. They were sharing a post-drama hug when a tornado rose from the ocean. My daughter's theory? Mermaids (as teased in Zombies 3) or sirens will be added to the mix in film five. The internet has many other theories, including a Zombies and Descendants crossover, which would fit with the 'Worlds Collide' concert tour members of both movie casts are on this summer.
Parent pain and suffering scale ⚖️
Had my husband not been able to scroll through his phone to look at sports scores, his suffering would have been HIGH. Zombies, werewolves, aliens, vampires: It's like the writers put every supernatural element in a script and hit blend, before sprinkling in teen angst and forbidden love and oh, let's make it a musical! It was too much and not enough at the same time, but when your kid is deliriously happy, does anything else matter?
My daughter's parting thought 💬
As the credits rolled at 9 p.m., I got the old: 'Now can we watch them all in order, starting with the first one?' I replied, 'Not tonight.' But let's be honest — a full Zombies marathon is likely in our future.
There are worse ways to spend a summer night, surrounded by people you love, even if they interrupt you … and definitely can't dance like Zed and Addison.
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