Watch Undead or Alive

Undead or Alive is an action-packed, horror-comedy movie that was released in 2007, directed by Glasgow Phillips. The movie stars a cast of relatively unknown actors, including Lew Alexander, Todd Anderson, and Matt Besser. The film is set in the Old West era and follows two unlikely heroes as they fight for survival in a chaotic world overrun by zombies.

The plot of the movie revolves around Elmer Winslow (Alexander), a hapless cowboy who is on the run from the law after being wrongfully accused of murder. Winslow ends up stumbling upon a town that has been overrun by zombies, which he believes is his ticket to freedom. However, he soon discovers that he is not alone in the town and meets the town's other survivor, Luke Rudd (Anderson), a sharpshooter who is searching for his lost love, Sue (Emma Caulfield).

As they team up to survive against the zombie horde that surrounds them, they come across an Indian princess named Sue, whom Luke believes is his true love. Together, they decide to band together and fight towards survival. Still, a group of treasure-seeking outlaws and Native Americans, led by the enthusiastic Governor Overton (Besser), is hot on their trail.

The movie starts as a Western set in an unforgiving, unfriendly landscape, but it quickly becomes apparent that something is not quite right. The zombies in the movie are unique and not your typical Romero-type zombies. They are not undead, but rather they are just like regular people who are infected with a virus, causing severe skin discoloration, rage, and an insatiable desire for human flesh. The transformation takes a couple of days to complete, allowing for escapes, fights, and creative tactics to outrun or fight against the outbreaks.

The humor in the film is genuinely funny, mixing slapstick and situational comedy with sharp dialogue and witty references. The brains behind the screenplay are Glasgow Phillips and Scott Pourroy, who inject the movie with enough levity to take the edge off the grim subject matter. Luke Rudd and Elmer Winslow's oddball dynamic is one of the film's greatest strengths. Their contrasting personalities make for excellent comedy, from the way they bicker with each other to their exaggerated reactions to the zombie attacks.

Undead or Alive also excellently subverts several Western tropes. It does so by providing a diverse set of characters to challenge the usual conventions. For instance, Elmer, the comedy relief character, proves to be quite handy with explosives, and his blunders often lead them out of danger. There is Burt (Chris Kattan), one of Overton's henchmen, who was bitten but not yet turned, and his predicament leads to situations that are comic yet harrowing.

The movie's fight scenes are thrilling and intense, with the filmmakers making the most of their low budget. The action scenes are well choreographed, with gunfights, zombie melees, and dynamic camera work. The make-up crew also deserves credit for the detailed and imaginative designs of the zombies. With their pale skin, sunken eyes, and bloody bites, they are fearsome and fit perfectly in the movie's wild-western setting.

Undead or Alive is a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, and it doesn't have to. It's an enjoyable ride from start to finish, with solid comedy, intense zombie action, and plenty of thrills. It's amazing the amount of fun they can get out of the clash between Western settings and zombie apocalypse. If you're looking for a unique take on the zombie genre that also provides laughs, this is an ideal movie to watch.