Land of the Dead

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Land of the Dead is available on streaming right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 1,822 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Simon Baker leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Land of the Dead is worth clearing space for. What makes Land of the Dead work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. The living dead have taken over the world, and the remaining humans live in a walled city to protect themselves as they cope with the situation. Simon Baker and John Leguizamo lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2005. What separates Land of the Dead from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Land of the Dead a chance. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch for Simon Baker in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.