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Germany was perhaps the most influential nation in the formative years of horror filmmaking, but in modern times, German genre output has been dubious in quality to say the least (Uwe Boll anyone?). Rammbock: Berlin Undead aims to right that ship, and although it has its faults, it's pointing the country in the right direction.

The Plot

Michael (Michael Fuith) is a lovelorn schlub who was recently dumped by his girlfriend of seven years, Gabi (Anna Graczyk).

He travels to her Berlin apartment to return her keys, hoping against hope that he can talk her out of her decision. However, he instead finds himself under siege by a horde of crazed, violent Berliners infected by a highly contagious, rapidly spreading disease.

Gabi's not at home, and when the zombie-like masses come after him, he ends up locking himself in her apartment with a young handyman named Harper (Theo Trebs). News reports show chaos across the city and in form the two men of the nature of the virus: it's spread by bite, but it takes control of the body only when triggered by adrenaline. So basically, if you're bitten, CALM DOWN. Michael and Harper form a plan of action with other survivors who gather on the building's balconies, but what can they do and who can they trust? And more importantly in Michael's mind, where's Gabi?

The End Result

Promoted as the first German zombie movie, Rammbock actually isn't necessarily a zombie movie at all. There's no confirmation that the "infected" are in fact the living dead; in fact, they're more in line with the "rage virus" victims from 28 Days Later.

This doesn't preclude the film from having a significant impact -- 28 Days Later, after all, is exceedingly entertaining -- but genre fans yearning for loping, partially decayed bodies, head shots, gut munching and other traditional trappings of zombie fare might be a bit disillusioned.

That said, the general apocalyptic tone is that of a zombie movie, and the strong makeup effects on the teeming hordes oozes the influence of George Romero and his undead progeny. The action in Rammbock is harrowing and survivalistic, like good zombie flicks should be, making good use of limited space as the protagonists are forced to retreat from the hallway to the apartment to the bedroom and even further to get away from the invaders. Still, the action sequences are fleeting and ultimately lacking in the grisly payoff we've come to expect from such films. In fact, there's shockingly little gore at all.

Instead, the filmmakers focus more on the human element of the situation. Although Michael can be a grating putz, his plight is relatable and poignant. Fuith and the rest of the cast perform with a genuineness that strengthens our emotional connection to the characters and deepens the film's impact. The fact that it has any sort of depth is remarkable, given the fact that Rammbock's running time is barely 60 minutes -- including credits. Although the storytelling is fairly efficient, the plot just isn't thick enough, lacking the twists and the memorable "water cooler" scenes that help make a great genre pic. Still, with its professional look and even-handed direction, Rammbock feels like a taste of bigger things to come from director Marvin Kren.

The Skinny

• Acting: B- (Emotionally true and believable.)
• Direction: B- (Adept at horror, drama and action elements.)
• Script: C+ (Interesting characters and scenarios mine some emotional depth, but not quite enough is done with them.)
• Gore/Effects: C (Makeup effects are good, but there's little gore.)
• Overall: B- (An intelligent, emotionally involving spin on zombie lore that's ultimately too short and only partially fulfilling.)

Rammbock: Berlin Undead is directed by Marvin Kren and is rated R by the MPAA for some horror violence. Release date: May 4, 2011.

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