I have a phobia of zombies. So you would think the zombie trend, still shuffling on despite its advanced age, would bother me. Instead, I view it as a repulsive, terrifying opportunity. Here's my reasoning. If I watch or read as much zombie media as possible, I won't be scared of them anymore. Or, at worst, I'll still be scared, but at least I'll also know what to do (aim for the head!) when the dead rise. All of this explains why I picked up a used copy of 2006's Black Sheep a few month's ago. It was a dollar. There were zombies. Rarely has research seemed so frugal. Having finally watched it, I can say that my appreciation for Shaun of the Dead is even stronger. Black Sheep is about genetically-modified sheep who turn into flesh-craving ghouls. That this movie is from New Zealand should explain the object of its obsession. And that it's about zombie sheep should also indicate that it's not a straight horror movie. It's a comedy/horror hybrid, like Shaun or Zombieland or Splice. Unfortunately, in spite of some amusing scenes of gore, Black Sheep misses something crucial. Nothing is ever seriously at stake in this film. Not even the dogs, who, having barked their orders for too many years, would be the expected early victims of a woolly vengeance. Horror comedies need to balance the humour with genuine threat. Every laugh should start out as a scream, or else they'll never be as enjoyable.
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