Blu-ray Review – Bio-Zombie

1998's "Bio-Zombie" takes viewers into the Hong Kong "shopping arcade" culture of the decade, where merchants of debatable reputation sold whatever they could to make a living, including the murky legal world of video compact disc releases. An exploration of the VCD industry, which favored the sale of bootlegged movies and pornography, is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the picture, with co-writer/director Wilson Yip creating an evocative understanding of daily business and the atmosphere of such mall activity, giving viewers a glimpse into this strange way of life. And there's a zombie feature included here as well, with Yip looking to pay tribute to beloved genre highlights with a frenzied take on the spread of the undead. He certainly has enthusiasm for gruesome encounters, but not much of a game plan when it comes to story and character, offering a one- note understanding of obnoxious characters dealing with an unbelievable situation of survival, and he takes his time to reach his offering of ultraviolence, making for a somewhat tedious sit. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com