Review | Film review: Cell - John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson can’t save this zombie tale
After dazzling opening scene, in which a phone signal turns people into zombies, adaptation of 2006 Stephen King novel falls flatter than a dead battery. It’s no match for Train to Busan
2/5 stars
The zombie craze continues unabated with Cell, Tod Williams’ functional adaptation of Stephen King’s 2006 novel. The idea is neat enough: a mysterious high-pitched signal sent one day causes everyone speaking on a cellphone to suddenly become raging carnivores. The satire may not be subtle, riffing on the way we’ve become zombified by technology, but it works well enough.
John Cusack plays everyman graphic novelist Clay Riddell, who arrives at a Boston airport to witness the signal being broadcast and humanity imploding faster than you can say “walking dead”. It’s a brilliant opening scene, dizzying in its speed and slaughter, as passers-by go for the jugular. Unfortunately, Cell never really has a follow-up.
After an underground escape, Clay hooks up with train driver Tom McCourt (Samuel L. Jackson) and his own upstairs neighbour Alice (Isabelle Fuhrman) in a bid for survival, safety and sanity. Clay just wants to reunite with his family, although it’s a pat emotional arc straight out the Hollywood playbook that isn’t enough to keep you engaged.