Herd is a 2023 American survival horror film about a woman who ends up trapped between a zombie outbreak and warring militia groups.
Directed and co-produced by Steven Pierce from a screenplay co-written with co-producer James Allerdyce. Also produced by Bret Carr, Ryan Guess, Lori Kay, Matt Mundy, Lev Peker, Michael Szmyga and Matt Walton.
The Framework Productions movie stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy V. Murphy, Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha and Jeremy Holm.
Plot:
Jamie Miller (Ellen Adair) and her wife, Alex (Mitzi Akaha) are trying to save their failing marriage by going on an isolated trip in rural Missouri. After an accident, the women find themselves trapped back in Jamie’s small hometown and where her father lives (Corbin Bernsen), which has become overrun by virus-infected ‘Heps’.
Big John Gruber (Jeremy Holm) and his clan help Jamie and Alex by shuttling them to a local vet, who sets Alex’s leg. A horde of heps descends on the vet’s office, forcing the group to flee to a warehouse the locals are using as a survival base.
At the warehouse, a rival militia, led by Sterling (Timothy V. Murphy), arrives at the warehouse claiming they want to trade supplies. When the trade goes south, a battle breaks out between the two militia groups causing Jamie to try and flee. Will they find a way to escape and find their way back home?
Reviews:
“In many ways, this is a sustained critique of the last twenty years of zombie apocalypse cinema – but it’s possibly more significantly a clear-eyed look at the shortcomings of that fabled ‘well-regulated militia’ in a crisis along with a relatively unforced assessment of that tendency to ramp paranoia up to eleven and make things worse.” The Kim Newman Web Site
” …it ends up falling into the middle of a few ideas we have seen before. Not being strong enough to blend them together for a top-tier addition to the zombie/infection collection of films. It is extremely watchable for anyone who is a fan and better than a lot of the low-budget ones we have got recently. “ ★★★ Movie Reviews 101
“Herd touches upon aspects of horror but sidetracks the zombies to show us that the real monsters are everyday people, just like us – we are the ‘herd’ of the title […} Herd is a polished production, well-lensed and it keeps the momentum ticking over nicely, even if for the most part its people squabbling…” 7 out of 10, My Bloody Reviews
“With a title which combines associations with America’s rural ranch lands, with an easily manipulated populace, and with a kind of disease immunity, Herd is a portrait of a society at vicious odds with itself, and primed to explode, as though the old west, with its territorial disputes and shootouts, had never ended. Yet in its central couple, it offers an alternative model, and the possibility of healing, both personal and national.” Projected Figures
“While interesting, it didn’t help at endearing me to Jamie, as a protagonist she wasn’t that likeable a person, and I did feel the way this all ended was a little too neat. It may be a little light on zombies, but with good practical effects, a fair bit of blood, and a decent enough story, this was still entertaining.” The Rotting Zombie
” …Herd is mainly a character drama that’s played on the run while its characters dodge bullets and zombies. Pacing flies along during the action bits and the pressure cooker tension keeps the film alive during the more dramatic parts. The story itself is engaging and manages to squeeze in some sociopolitical themes…” ★★★½ The Scariest Things
“On the good side of things, mainly two: photography and makeup. Brennan Full is the woman in charge of the image and she works well in the darkest spaces […] Caitlyn Young’s makeup is full of pustules, vomit and other well-done filth, giving us good-quality zombies […] Herd is not a disaster, but it’s quickly forgotten and not very entertaining.” ★★ Terror Weekend [translated from Spanish]
“With not quite enough horror and not enough plot development, Herd feels like rather a long lull after its initial set-up. However, despite aspects which are patchy or predictable, it remains a visually appealing film, one with some sense of its heritage, but also some ideas of its own […] There are elements of skill here, but some challenges to face too…” Warped Perspective
YouTube reviews:
Trailer 1:
Trailer 2:
Release:
Herd had its world premiere at the 2023 FrightFest in London on August 26, 2023.
