Fido Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Laugh your head off.
Good dead are hard to find
Timmy Robinson's best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido. But when FIDO eats the next-door neighbor, Mom and Dad hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family. A boy-and-his-dog movie for grown ups, "FIDO" will rip your heart out.
| Billy Connolly | Fido |
| Jan Skorzewski | Eating Zombie |
| Carrie-Anne Moss | Helen Robinson |
| Dylan Baker | Bill Robinson |
| Kevin Tyell | Zombie's Victim |
| K'Sun Ray | Timmy Robinson |
| Henry Czerny | Mr. Bottoms |
| Tim Blake Nelson | Mr. Theopolis |
| Sonja Bennett | Tammy |
| Jennifer Clement | Dee Dee Bottoms |
| Raphael Kepinski | Collar Light Zombie |
| Aaron Brown | Roy Fraser |
| Brandon Olds | Stan Fraser |
| Alexia Fast | Cindy Bottoms |
| Bernard Cuffling | Mr. Henderson |
| Andrew Currie |
7.40 out of 10 (442 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A boy and his zombie
posted on 15 Jul 2009Who says zombies can't be converted into useful members of the community? Certainly not the makers of "Fido," who take us to a never-never-land version of the 1950's where the undead have been turned into butlers and servants for the burgeoning middle class. Timmy Robinson is the all-American boy who becomes emotionally attached to the family's new full-time domestic - a recently resurrected zombie whom Timmy has affectionately dubbed Fido. All of this has been made possible by Zomcom, a big-brother-type organization that has found a way to render the zombies (who were originally brought to "life" by radiation from outer space) manageable and docile - at least most of the time.This twisted, modern-day spin on the TV series "Lassie" - it might easily have been entitled "A Boy and His Zombie" - takes slyly satirical swipes at such pre-'60s concerns as obsessive social conformity (here keeping-up-with-the-Joneses means having more zombie servants than the folks next door), the sterility of suburban life, the corporate control of civic affairs, small town corruption and nuclear family values - all played out in a beautifully designed setting of parti-colored houses and immaculately manicured lawns. The movie doesn't hit the audience over the head with its message nor does it engage in endless hyperbole to generate laughs. Instead, this is a low-keyed, subtle little satire that elicits appreciative chuckles rather than full-bellied guffaws. Much of the humor derives from the incongruity between the placidness of the setting and the cavalier attitude towards death demonstrated by the fine citizens of the community (Life Magazine has been replaced with a periodical entitled Death Magazine). Despite some playfully graphic violence, the movie stays true to the spirit of innocence we generally associate with both the 1950's itself and the cheesy, low-budget horror movies that were so much a part of the pop culture scene of that decade.K'Sun Ray, Carrie-Ann Moss and Dylan Baker are amiable and appealing as the wide-eyed Timmy and his Cleaver-esquire parents (with slightly sinister undertones), while Billy Connolly accomplishes the well nigh impossible task of bringing a great deal of humanity and depth to the role of a resurrected corpse.This is what "Lassie" might have been had Timmy's best friend been afflicted rabies.
Waste of time
posted on 29 Jun 2009The fact that so many people rate this thing highly shows that really good writing is not appreciated anymore. Yes it was a good idea. Yes it's technically well done and the colors are nice to look at. But it's so totally BORING! It would have made a clever 10 minute skit perhaps. I tried to watch it twice, after about 10 minutes I fast forwarded thru it, stopping and hoping for something clever or funny, but no luck. I love horror, splatter, satire, zombies, etc. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH RENTING THIS. IT IS SIMPLY ROTTEN, LIKE A ZOMBIE. Take the time to watch some of the old Universal black and white movies, like Old Dark House, or any other classics. Learn to appreciate really good scripts. Maybe someday it'll be on HBO, test your patience by trying to sit thru it. AWFUL!!!
A slice of the Afterlife...
posted on 21 Jun 2009It's ironic (and I've mentioned it before, but I have no problem with repeating myself) that the parodies of fright films are often far better, in terms of production values, than the films they spoof. FIDO captures the look and feel of '50s complacency better than most any period drama set in the same era. Director Currie has a good eye (perhaps two) and a sure hand; his players, from Billy Connelly as the direct lineal descendant of George Romero's Bub in DAY OF THE DEAD to Dylan Baker as the straight-laced, William H. Macy father figure (he's little more than that, is literally unable to communicate with his post-nuclear family members) to Carrie-Ann Moss as Mrs. Robinson and Tim Nelson (from OH, BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?) as the zombie-lovin' Theopolis, all shine (or "shine it on," as it were). "You have to get over having feelings," the Father tells the Son: "Being alive is what counts." FIDO, with its domesticated dead, could very well be a follow-up to Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD without so much as a breaking of stride. Not as politically savvy, perhaps, but it does manage to capture the dynamics of the post-nuclear, retro '50s family of today very well, indeed.
What a Wonderfuly Odd Movie!!! - MAYBE a spoiler...
posted on 13 Jun 2009Even without speaking a word, Billy Connely is wonderful as a zombie... Carrie Ann Moss as "Mom"?, even better. Zombie girlfriends? "...My father thied to eat me... I never tried to eat Timmy." And I thought Dawn of the Dead was good. It's kinda like Airplane meets (meats?) Night of the Living Dead, sponsored by Zomcom..And don't forget my head coffinAnd Fido in an Aloha shirt is just way cool!And yes, the social comment is just too much to even begin to comment on. Sufice it to say, it all really works!
Best Zom-Com since "Shaun of the Dead"!
posted on 28 May 2009In the immortal "Shaun of the Dead", we are introduced to a London where the slackers and the high-and-mighty alike are forced to battle flesh-eating, reanimated corpse versions of their friends and family. At the end of the film, it is suggested that the zombies are rendered harmless and used as cheap labour. "Fido" presents us with an epilogue to "Shaun" set in 1950's America, in a hilariously witty and original "what-if...?" movie.The film is set post-zombie-apocalypse, for a change; after the terrors of the Zombie Wars, ended by the creation of the ZomCon company and their patented zombie collars which make the corpses as docile as lambs. Every town in the world is fenced off from the Wild Zone, the once-fertile landscape torn asunder by the surviving zombies and left-overs from the apocalyptic wars. The idyllic town of Willard is your typical, pristine 50's suburbia, with one small difference; social status is measured by a family's amount of domesticated zombies. Unfortunately, the Robinson family has no zombies whatsoever, due to their patriarch, Bill's, fear of the reanimated dead. Timmy Robinson and his mother Helen both suffer from the pressures of suburban life, until the day that Helen purchases a zombie servant in a desperate attempt to impress the neighbours.The zombie earns Timmy's love when he rescues him from a pair of violent bullies, and the two form a bond to rival the classic "boy-and-his-dog" cliché... a boy and his zombie. Timmy names his "pet" Fido, and he soon becomes an aid for both Timmy and Helen to escape the prison-like routine Bill has put them in. But when Fido's domestication collar goes on the fritz and he devours the elderly Mrs Henderson, the Robinsons have to contain their connection the sudden wild zombie epidemic and still manage to keep their beloved Fido.A film whose sharp wit and satirical gore carry it just as much as its all-star cast (including "The Matrix"'s Carrie-Anne Moss as Helen Robinson and Billy Connelly as Fido), "Fido" is a zom-com for the ages. With some rather twisted subplots - for example, the sweet and unsettling feelings that Helen and Fido begin to have for each other - and a poignant commentary on 50's suburbia and the zombie genre, the film manages to bring out the worst (and the best) in its characters while still enabling you to care for them."Fido" is, by far, one of the best dark comedies I've ever seen, one of the best films that I've seen in a long time, and THE best zom-com since the incredible "Shaun of the Dead".
I call him Daddy!
posted on 08 Apr 2009I first caught this trailer a while ago and have been trying to find a copy for ages. I finally did and watched it tonight. What a great, funny and food for thought film this is. Everyone likens this to Shaun but I thought it was more like a happy Pleasantville. Great script spoken by some fine actors. Not in the least that of Billy Connolly (who by the way is a Scot and not Scotch that is a drink) He has had many roles and has always shone in them but this one he was great as Fido. What a man! What a Zombie. A zombie who died of a heart attack but still fancied a cigarette. The town is 50's kitsch with mums at home and the dads unable to relate to their wives, note the twin beds, who the men think haven't got a thought in their head. So the family gets a Zombie, the mum is cool, the kid picked on and the dad repressed, rather, playing golf than with his kid. One happy nucleur family with the addition of a Zombie that Timmy decides to call Fido. We have a security chief who is a pain in the ... and drunk on power. Who mistreats the zombies and welds his power freely even down to obtaining his new home. Well Fido saves the day several times. Saving Timmy from the bullies and from the biggest bully of all. We have a neighbour who has a zombie girlfriend who was fired from the corporation for just that. We have the head honchos daughter who is a fine shot, we have Zombies doing menial jobs, with a soundtrack from the fifties and the most intense colour cinematography. We have untamed zombies, minus the collar that they are made to wear to keep them docile. And sometimes these collars just don't work. So if you like Zombies and you want to laugh What this. Its a lot of Fido fun
doesn't work for me
posted on 27 Mar 2009I love a good zombie film, dawn of the dead, night of the living dead, day of the dead etc. These movies are great because they're horror films and you are scared of seeing the Zombies eating people and running amok. Shaun of the Dead worked great as well as even though it was part-comedy, you could at least identify with the realism in it and there was some genuine humor amongst all the deaths. Fido is a great idea and to some people, I can see why they think its a great film but this just didn't cut it for me. You do see zombies eating people but its all sanitised and done so quaintly in the 50's setting that its hard to really know what sort of film you're watching. I realise this was the directors intention to throw in the whole clean living, keeping up with the Jones's post war 1950's boom era but for me its completely the wrong place to put a zombie film in. Its like watching "harry and the hendersons", its certainly not horror and its not comedy either. Its interesting to see a civilised society where zombies can live with humans as their slaves/pets/workers but its not enough to make a 90 minute film out of it. Kudos to the director and writer for trying something novel and certainly very different but for me personally, the movie falls flat on its face.
Zomcom
posted on 27 Mar 2009At a risk of sounding slightly sacrilegious, on first viewing I'm kind of inclined to put this right up on a par with 'Shaun of the Dead'. Now, given I view Simon Pegg as an unquestionable comedy genius, I realise this is a rather big claim. And to what extent you agree with that last statement may be a good preliminary gauge of whether 'Fido' will appeal to you.In a way the comedy picks up where 'Shaun' left off, except we're back in the original 1950s Living Dead-era stereotypical middle-American small town. The Zombie Wars are over and zombies themselves are becoming more well-adjusted, useful members of the community. This, so we're informed at the outset, is largely thanks to the scientific advances made by the good people at Zomcom - a nice play on romantic comedy perhaps? The beauty of the film lies in its dead-pan depiction of a respectable neighbourhood maintaining core values while making a place for zombies and the special hazards they pose. The charm and balance with which it does this is near enough perfect. Themes you might expect from a more mainstream kitsch comedy come through - the veneer of good clean living, keeping up appearances, repressed emotion, muddled parental values, social decorum and the plight of the alienated individual.It's a story told with happy heart and wide appeal that is brought to life vividly by the film's all-round strong cast. It's one of those works where it really shows through that everyone involved got a kick out of taking part. It's also fun imagining what Billy Connelly learning his script must have been like...So in conclusion, it is probable you will appreciate the humour of this film unless your father tried to eat you.
Fido
posted on 25 Mar 2009Perfectly cast satire on the zombie genre and 60's mores, focuses on a suburban neighborhood soon after the "zombie wars" where the undead are now used as "pets" and "slaves" to help with the household chores along with comforting their masters. The family the film highlights are in a disconnect with each other. The father, Bill Robinson(Dylan Baker)has never recovered from having to kill his zombie dad, forcing his wife and kid to sit through funerals every Sunday. Mom, Helen(..a delightful Carrie-Anne Moss, simply glowing, and able to wonderfully mimic the methods women of this era of time acted regarding temperament towards their clueless husbands)wishes for her family to remain squeaky clean and proper to her neighbors, slowly, over time, tiring of her husband's inability to connect with his family, his withdrawn and always uncomfortable nature. Son Timmy(K'Sun Ray) simply wants some of his dad's time, receiving little affection or attention which leads to his developing friendship(kinship)to their zombie slave Fido(Billy Connolly, in a bit of inspired casting).FIDO pays tribute to George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, not exactly poking fun at his movie as using it's social message regarding people's facile natures, without allowing the breakdown of society because of the zombie revolt(..you don't see people at each other's throats, twisted angered faces, or characters tearing into one another)featured in that masterpiece. The smiles are wide, people almost always remain at a certain level of calm even during more "heated" moments(..heated as say a husband and wife disagreeing about something on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER or THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW), and stinging remarks, along with rebellious feelings towards the status quo(..most often uttered from the mouth of young Timmy)are buried under scrutiny for "stepping out of line". Yet, even though Timmy isn't as hip to the company "Zomcom"(..the company who discovered the method of killing and containing the zombies), he is always the standard archetype little boy you are accustomed to when you come across THE PATTY DUKE SHOW or FATHER KNOWS BEST. He wishes to protect his "pet" from those who wish to harm Fido, whether it be the two bully students in his class or his neighbor, Mr. Bottoms(Henry Czerny)who runs Zomcom. Established is that if families are unable to keep their zombies from harming others(..Fido's collar is damaged multiple times on purpose by people wishing to harm it, the result, his feasting from their flesh), Bottoms sends them to the "Wild Zone", a wasteland of zombies gated from the sunny, green environment of wholesome suburbia. Director Andrew Currie(..along with co-writer Robert Chomiak)also satirize "gun control freaks" as we see that practically every man(..women, and eventually children over 12 are allowed to carry guns)owns a gun for protection..the war left a nation prepared for perhaps another outbreak.Despite the satire, the film actually devoted much time to the buddy comedy aspects of a kid and his beloved zombie friend, and how Helen, relatively ignored by her husband, who is consumed by other feelings(..such as DEATH;he even reads a magazine titled "Death"), grows fond of Fido. I like how friction is presented, but in a way we might see on conservative television at the time. The friendship's ability to withstand obstacles which threaten to tear apart Fido and Timmy provide fertile ground for the filmmakers to use the zombie traits we're used to in a witty way..such as the outcome towards irritating characters such as Timmy's obnoxious bullies or the old hag who's always criticizing someone. The violence isn't as extreme(..well, for those who have seen the goriest gutmunchers, this is child's play)as we are often accustomed to in the zombie genre, and the rot/decay of the "pets" are never too repellent. I think it works surprisingly well, but this kind of satire seems to divide those that find it funny while others seem to consider it dull garbage. Tim Blake Nelson is a riot as retired Zomcom scientist who has a zombie girlfriend, Tammy(..a lively bit of naughty "necro-comedy")..he actually lends Timmy help when he needs it most..he's not without his faults(..he actually turns a zombie loose on an innocent crowd to assist the young boy in his pursuit of "kidnapped" Fido and, we must not forget that he has a zombie girlfriend!).
A touching tale of a boy and his zombie.
posted on 03 Mar 2009In an alternate 1950s, where an outbreak of the undead (caused by a mysterious 'space-dust') has been contained through the use of special electronic collars, a young loner, Timmy, finds a friend in Fido (Billy Connelly), his family's recently acquired domesticated zombie.Fido quickly becomes a surrogate father to Timmy, whose real dad is unable to adequately express his love for his son (or for his hot-to-trot wife, played by the gorgeous Carrie-Anne Moss) having been psychologically scarred as a child (when he was forced to shoot his own father, who tried to eat him!).Timmy runs into a spot of bother, however, when his putrid pal's collar goes on the blink, and he attacks and kills an elderly neighbour. With the authorities on Fido's trail, trouble brewing with a pair of local bullies, and his mother forming a bond with their undead house-help, will Timmy be able to hold on to his new found friend?A refreshing take on the whole zombie schtick, Fido is a thoroughly entertaining, deliciously dark comedy that should appeal to anyone with a slightly twisted sense of humour. Taking the Romero zombie-verse and transplanting it into 1950s small town America is a stroke of genius, and the result is simply one of the most original films to tackle the whole 'reanimated dead' theme that I have seen.Connelly's Fido is a cinematic zombie worthy of inclusion in the Undead Movie Hall of Fame, along with Day Of The Dead's Bub, and Return Of The Living Dead's Tarman; it is not often I feel empathy for a walking corpse, but The Big Yin's performance is so fine that I actually found myself rooting for the big blue bag of pus! The rest of the cast also give commendable performances, with young K'Sun Ray (as Timmy) and Ms.Moss deserving special mentions—Ray, because, for one so young, he puts in a particularly assured turn, and Moss because she is so bloody yummy!This is the third zombie film that I have watched this week (the others being the somewhat disappointing Planet Terror and the rather fun Flight Of The Living Dead), and, to my surprise, it is also the best. Director Andrew Currie has given fans of the genre something truly original to treasure and is a talent to be watched in the future.8.5 out of 10, rounded up to 9 for IMDb.
Zombified ideas
posted on 03 Mar 2009This wasn't all that great. Not terrible or hateful or anything, just forgettable.It had a sort of, um, hesitant, diluted air, like it never properly knew whether it wanted to go for laughs or for sweetness or for satire. So we were left with weak mix of the three. The actors seemed kinda lost.Also, the ideas were really tired and recycled, almost zombified themselves. How many more times do we have to be told the 50's in the States were infected with a banal sense of conformity? And that this was perpetuated by aggressive consumerism? And that emotional repression in men is a baaaaad thing? Old hat.Its biggest crime in my eyes though was just how detached from reality it was. I know it was a comedy and all, but - especially in a full movie where you must keep the interest of an audience for a prolonged period - you still need some sort of emotional anchor, some relatable guide through the story, to make it engaging. For the 'hero' kid to watch an old woman, two fellow school pupils and ultimately his father die painfully at the hands of zombies or whatever and for him to greet it all with a cheery smile and a shrug of the shoulders, then I just struggle to deal with that in any sort of positive way. The mum was the same. If you make your two main characters so inhuman on that level, then you risk losing me and that's what happened.Biggest positive I can offer is that I love the look of that sort of apple pie suburbia and this captured it well enough, it was a handsome film, especially some of those wide angled shots of the street and inside the Robinsons' house. Also, the opening newsreel was cute, in a been-done-before-but-still-funny sort of way.And I thought Billy Connolly was OK and that comes from someone who isn't a big fan of Billy Connolly: Movie Star. I just had this fear he was going to be hamming it up and trying to steal every scene, but he played it pretty low-key for him and probably came out the most sympathetic character in the whole film.All in all, not great though.
Boring, unfunny zombie film
posted on 23 Feb 2009But I'll give it 2 stars because it has Carrie-Ann. I really wanted to like this movie. I like zombie movies. Add comedy, and how could it miss? Well, unfortunately I sat in the theater...waiting...waiting...waiting for something funny to appear on-screen. But it never came. If you're easily entertained and don't ask for much, "Fido" may suffice. But if you're looking for something a bit sharper, stay away. Not only that, but this film DRAGS on and on and on. The main zombie is kind of amusing in the beginning, but after awhile it gets tired. One of the things I didn't like was how "forced" this felt. The directing and acting performances just didn't click. I was bored and very disappointed with this. Don't get your hopes up for this film.
S_W's review of 'Fido' (2006)
posted on 19 Feb 2009The world has become one run by a massive corporation, ZomCom, which specializes in merchandise for the destruction and control of the undead.Zombies are equipped with a collar, quite like that of the Jet Li movie 'Unleashed,' which controls them and treats them like a "household pet." It's Stepford Wives meets Shaun of the Dead meets Desperate Housewives meets My Dog Skip and Lassie.What's not to love? The film itself is one extremely well for the odd storyline. The direction is very well done and captures the 50s style it's going for. The writing is excellent, very crisp and entertaining. The acting is great from a stellar cast.I highly suggest this one.8/10.-AP3-
Make Room for the Living Dead
posted on 05 Feb 2009FIDO has the potential to be considered as a modern day cult classic. Considering all the crappy mainstream zombie movies being released these days, it's nice to know that there are still films like FIDO on the independent market. Unfortunately I had to watch it on DVD, as it never made it's way theatrically to the Baltimore-D.C. metropolitan area.Think of FIDO as Danny Thomas meets George A. Romero. It's taking the stereotypical 50s family sitcom, and mixing it in with the zombie movie. In the 1950s, after Earth got hit with a cloud of radioactive dust, the dead began to rise and feast on the living. After the Zombie Wars, ZomCom began domesticating the zombies. Enter the Robinson Family, they just buy a zombie named "Fido," (played by Scottish comedian Billy Connelly) and little Timmy makes it his best friend. But what do you do when the zombie begins eating people?This movie is overall very satisfying satire. It has a very dark humor to it, which is the kind of comedy I like. Some viewers who like their comedy spoon-fed to them might rather not watch this, but FIDO is a very funny and spunky indie film. It makes fun of practically everything about the 50s, to the old "what to do in the event of a Russian attack" films they showed in schools. For those who don't like gory zombie movies, there really isn't a whole lot of it. It's silly, but it's good clean fun.
FilmCreature Reviews 'Fido'
posted on 24 Jan 2009It's amazing that they can make a flesh-eating ghoul with scarred blue skin and a tendency to eat the neighbors into a lovable teddy bear named Fido. Though 'Fido' isn't without its slips, by the end of the movie I really didn't give a crap. I loved Fido.There's no doubt it might just make the cult-classic list, for its lovable characters, cunning wit and brilliant cast. Carrie-Anne Moss still somehow retains her Matrix-y badass persona even as a 50's housewife. There's a hilarious scene where Fido leads her to Timmy, who is in danger of getting eaten alive by a zombie. The dialogue ("What is it, Fido? Is Timmy in trouble?") obviously gave me flashbacks and made me chuckle out loud.What makes 'Fido' funny is how the film makes itself seem so...cute, even though it is occasionally punctuated by a bloody killing. If you pay attention, you'll notice Moss' character, who seemed to be a sterile housewife at first look, now pulls out her handy snub-nosed pistol and shoots a zombie multiple times. Then, she walks back, and the sweet, Lassie-ish music starts up again. I nearly peed my pants laughing. And this isn't just a movie for guys. Women will probably outright adore Billy Connelly's Fido, and identify with Moss' character, who deals with her whiny husband daily. The film gets good when she starts to rebel. I picked this one up from Blockbuster, and I'm sure I'll buy it sometime soon. This is one to add to your collection.9 rotting zombies out of 10.
Amazing must-see movie of 2007!!!
posted on 20 Jan 2009My goodness. This movie really really shows the talents of actors. Billy Connelly flexes his acting muscle. Truly an amazing man, if you look at him in Absolution as a rebel, Boondock Saints as a madman/killer, and then finally in Fido as a zombie! His character in Fido looks from cute to frightening, absolutely fabulous! Cariie Ann Moss is no hack either! Jumping in career from Matrix and Momento as a darker character, to a heart warming conservative 1950's housewife! Rare these days to see actors being able to not be so type-casted.Now onto the storyline (No Spoilers, don't worry). This movie would make Max Brooks (Author of Zombie Survival Guide & World War Z) happy with joy! Finally a well done twist of zombies and comedy.If you like zombies, if you don't like zombies, if you are just bored, or if you are too busy, go see this movie!
Not What It First Appears - An Absurdly-Funny & Touching Film
posted on 20 Jan 2009When you see the cover of the DVD you're convinced this is some Class B cheesy cheapie, a film made for $1,000 in somebody's backyard.Wrong! This is quality material and really good. It's a comedy and a clever one at that. It also is very touching in spots, with a nice spot of kindness. The production values are very good (this looks excellent), the actors are known, the film's direction and sets are great. It's amazing. Who would have thought?Carrie-Ann Moss, playing against-type, is terrific, as"Helen Robinson," the June Cleaver-like wife; Billy Connolly is great as the grunting good-hearted zombie "Fido;" Tim Blake Nelson ("Mr. Theopolis") is a hoot is the neighbor with the sexy zombie girlfriend "Tammy," and Henry Czerny and Dylan Baker as dads (check) are excellent, too K'Sun Ray as young "Timmy Robinson," shouldn't be overlooked, either. In fact, he probably has more lines in the movie than anyone.If I explain the story it will sound so stupid that few of you would watch it. You'll just have to take the word of the people here who liked it and found it to be a very, very pleasant surprise. You need a dark sense of humor, though; an appreciation of the absurd.
The funnest zombie movie around.
posted on 13 Dec 2008Fido is a story about more well mannered zombies who have been trained to serve the human race. All falls apart though, when young Timmy's zombie Fido eats the family neighbor. From then on, disaster (well, maybe not disaster, but to some extent, chaos) occurs. Most of the people treat their zombies with fairness, and one such character sleeps with his zombie (very funny part of the movie, if not also very disturbing too). And we find the loving Fido whatever he may do. This is a very funny and unique film, especially for the zombie genre. It is also probably one of the least violent of zombie movies (no negativity in this statement). I very much recommend it to people who are looking for something funny and different. I rate this 8/10. Rated R for zombie related violence
50s television has its own starring role!
posted on 09 Nov 2008The concept of Fido is pure Midnight Movie fun: a Lassie remake, with zombies. But just as Shaun of the Dead is "a Romantic Comedy, with zombies", Fido rises above its purely b-conceptualized beginnings and becomes something of a "good cult classic" well deserving of its ever-rising devoted audience and critical enthusiasm.The real star in Fido is the production design. This is not the 50s as it existed, nor is it the 50s as we wish it existed. It is the 50s that existed in the 50s televisions that existed. In Fido, married couples sleep in separate beds. Idyllic suburban imagery opens up to Leave It to Beaver situation comedy. The only lingering disturbing sense is of the awkwardly sleazy next-door-neighbor, who of course eventually has to come to terms with his relationship and personality as the community sees it and just be himself. The rest is a coming-of-age story as a little boy named Timmy learns about life, love, responsibility, and zombie killing due to the colorful, crazy antics of his pet-in-the-flesh-himself, Fido the zombie.The imagery is immaculate, the world building is logical. Fido is one of those rare gems that manages to find its way into the all of the noise: it is an entertaining, fun-filled family delight, besides having maybe a few things to say about our relationship to the 50s and especially how 50s produced imagery affects our consideration of that era. Notice, however, that there is no film noir concepts, lighting, or design to be seen. The "horror", if it need be considered that, is the tension of "Little Timmy fell down a well, boy?" This movie, despite appearances, is the exact opposite of The Stepford Wives, except that it still considers a bit of post-feminist revisionism. Though that is to say, it's also a great popcorn film, something fun to play during social events, and much more deserving of its attention than some other tongue-in-cheek cult films out there that are all too aware of their camp value to even try to rise above it (not that that's wrong, but sometimes a bit tiresome).--PolarisDiB
"Leave It to Beaver" meets George Romero
posted on 29 Jul 2009It's not often that you see a horror-comedy flick that also functions as a social satire, but Andrew Currie's "Fido" is just that. It portrays 1950s suburban America in the years after the "zombie wars". The humans proved victorious in these wars thanks to a corporation called Zomcom, which invented collars to hang around the zombies' necks to control them. Zombie servants are thus the new fad.Anyway, little Timmy Robinson (Billy Connolly) is the son in the one family that doesn't have a zombie. But when mom Helen (Carrie-Anne Moss) buys one - whom Timmy names Fido - dad Bill (Dylan Baker) isn't sure what to think...especially after Timmy accidentally lets the zombie kill the obnoxious old woman on the block! I figure that they must have had fun making this movie. Aside from some of the stuff that the zombies do people - or that the people do to other people - just how they make a point of ripping at the image of a wholesome, all-white America. How Helen complains about not having a zombie servant must have mirrored how every family in 1950s suburban America wanted a TV, or whatever the newest appliance/fad was. But beyond that, you have to observe how many of the humans - namely John Bottoms (Henry Czerny) - are just about the vilest individuals, while many of the zombies have nary a mean bone in their bodies.Anyway, this is just a hilarious movie. I guarantee that you won't find it a bit boring. So check it out. And if I may say so, I wouldn't mind having a zombie like Tammy!