Zoombies

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Zoombies is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 191 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Ione Butler sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Zoombies is worth clearing space for. Zoombies uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. When a strange virus quickly spreads through a safari park and turns all the zoo animals undead, those left in the park must stop the creatures before they escape and zombify the whole city. Ione Butler and Andrew Asper lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2016. Zoombies resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Zoombies fits the bill. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch for Ione Butler in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.