Film criticism can be a paradox. How can I say I liked this movie more than I thought I would, but also I wanted to like it more?
It’s not often we get a horror movie made for kids. The story is loosely based on an unpublished short by Clive Barker — better known as the creator of Hellraiser.
This is not Hellraiser. But it does raise a little Hell. There are moments of genuine horror — zombie chases, body transformations, mutant attacks, predator swarms — all drenched in moody lighting and fog. The scenes also stretch tension beyond jump scares.
Maybe I’m being hard on a $12 million film. It’s impressive what they pulled off with fog, color, and clever staging. Still, like the backgrounds, the dialogue is foggy too, and the voice acting leans into exaggerated accents.
But I’ve seen worse.
Night of the Zoopocalypse is a solid pick for a family film night. Your kids will laugh, jump, and toss back popcorn with their eyes locked on the screen.
As a parent, you’ll see what I saw: a decent kids’ horror movie trapped in a small budget. Curb your expectations, pour yourself a cocktail (or three), and admire what they pulled off with limited means.
🎬🎬🎬
Where to watch
Rating: PG (Me: 6+)
Directors: Ricardo Curtis & Rodrigo Perez-Castro
Starring: David Harbour, Gabbi Kosmidis, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
Run time: 1h 31m
Post-credits scenes: No
Sequel? I doubt it. But one IMDb poster said they heard this at the end of the credits: “We hope to see you again real soon.” Still, probably not, seeing as it made $5 million at the box office.
If you liked Night of the Zoopocalypse, check out these films:
- Madagascar: A Little Wild – A Fang-Tastic Halloween (2020) (4+)
- Ice Age: A Haunted Mammoth Halloween (2011) (4+)
- The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024) (5+)
- Invaders from Mars (1986) (6+)
- Men in Black (1997) (7+)
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) (9+)
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Find this title on the Family Film Recommendations list
