Staycation Review
Sean Kinney– Professor Edward Bellows
Bailey Sorrel– Cathy
Gilles Stricher– Matt
Catherine LaSalle– Britt
Lilly Irving– Marnie
Kelli Maroney– Cynthia Oxford
Laurene Landon– Tabitha Musgraves
(check out the rest of the cast here)
Directed by Russ Emanuel
Screenplay by Emile Haris
Produced by Alien Donut Films, Bad Bob Productions, and One More Picture Show
Runtime– 94 minutes
https://www.facebook.com/staycationthemovie
Staycation, directed by Russ Emanuel and set to be released at some point during the summer of 2025 under the new title Apocalypse Death Party, is a sort of prequel to Routine, a short film I saw at Amazing Fantasy Fest last year (you can see my review of Routine here). Part weird comedy and part zombie movie, Staycation is yet another new movie that hopes to comment on the recent Covid-19 pandemic while also being a sort of genre exaggeration of what happened during the actual pandemic. I’m not entirely sure how the horror movie audience is going to respond to it (I don’t really know if people necessarily want to watch movies “about Covid-19” at the moment. We may have to wait about a decade before we can really start making movies about it), but if you give Staycation a chance and accept it on its own terms, you might like it. Maybe. I liked it.
Basically, Staycation tells the story of how America and the world responded to a contagious virus that spread across the globe and shut societies down. As the virus, known as the Nix Virus, spread, there was massive social unrest, people died, and it looked like the world might end. Things eventually calmed down, and governments and the survivors learned to “live with” the virus as scientists tried to figure out how to fight back against it/cure it. The main American scientist behind research into the Nix Virus, Professor Edward Bellows (Sean Kinney), appears on a popular news show to talk about the state of research into Nix. Professor Bellows wants people to know that the virus was not created in a lab, is not “man-made,” and that people need to keep taking precautions against it. The Professor’s TV appearance is almost reassuring that authorities have a handle on things. The reality, though, as we later see when Professor Bellows confers with a fellow research via Zoom, is that “control” of virus spread is tenuous at best. Professor Bellows is also worried that it will be only a matter of time before the virus mutates again, and they won’t be able to stop it.
While all of that is going on, we see Cathy (Bailey Sorrel) interact with her boyfriend Matt (Gilles Stricher) via Zoom. Matt is being quarantined in Europe (I think it’s Europe), and Cathy is worried about him. Cathy also has a secret to reveal to Matt. Cathy was infected with the Nix Virus two weeks ago. Obviously upset by this revelation, Matt wants to get back to America as quickly as possible to be with his girlfriend. However, as they talk via Zoom, we see Cathy transform into a zombie. Cathy is eventually removed from her apartment by men in hazmat suits, something that Matt watches happen. We later find out that Cathy is potentially special, and that she’s going to be experimented on by Professor Bellow and his team.
And while all of that is going on, we see friends and roommates Britt (Catherine LaSalle) and Marnie (Lilly Irving) just trying to live and get through each day. We see them wake up, eat breakfast, watch TV, and go grocery shopping (you have to wear a facemask when out in the world, something no one likes to do). Britt also tries to stay in touch with her parents (her Mom is perpetually concerned about her daughter’s well-being, while her father tries to put on a brave face and insists that the Nix Virus is no big deal). Britt and Marnie eventually have to deal with an intruder and an assault and decide to get a gun for home protection.
And while all of that is going on, we see various TV shows, YouTube-like shows, and other media that show us how the world outside of the movie’s main characters are dealing with the world in the midst of the Nix Virus. There’s “regular” news, there’s all sorts of weirdo conspiracy nonsense, and a sort of overwhelming distrust in institutions (there’s a podcast that traffics in some of the dumbest sounding stuff). The great Kelli Maroney pops in as Cynthia Oxford, a woman featured on the news because she’s a habitual house cleaner and someone who doesn’t want to harm the two zombies roaming around her backyard. The immortal Laurene Landon also shows up as Tabitha Musgraves, an internet wine influencer. There are also commercials for something called Klown Vitamins (we see these vitamins in various places throughout the movie). We also see a “social media challenge” thing for super spicy chicken strips (because even in the midst of the potential end of the world, corporations are still trying to make money and people are doing silly stuff on the internets).
The various stories eventually converge, and the zombie apocalypse begins. That isn’t a spoiler, as it’s obvious that that’s what’s going to happen. I do wonder, though, how people are going to respond to the movie’s sense of humor. Will people “get” what’s going on with the movie’s satire? And how will people respond to the way the movie tells its story? Will people accept a movie that is essentially a series of Zoom calls and YouTube shows broken up by the occasional “real people living in this world” story? Again, I think the overall success of Staycation will depend on how people respond to the movie’s Covid-19 subtext. Will that subtext upset them?
I personally think the satire at the heart of Staycation is hilarious. While it’s true that people always find a way to “keep living” in the midst of absolutely terrible circumstances, the movie shows that there are far too many people engaging in stupid conspiracies, raging nonsense, and grifting bullshit while also “living.” Absolutely none of the speculation about what’s really going on via the various YouTube shows and podcasts and whatnot turns out to be true, and not enough people seem to be willing to listen to the people that actually know what’s happening. Of course, you could argue that Professor Bellows and company aren’t being totally transparent about what they actually know, and that the great folly of the authorities is that they didn’t shout down the bullshit quickly enough to keep it from spreading. Everyone is doing everything wrong, and it just isn’t going to end well for anyone.
The main stories in Staycation generally work. Director Emanuel could have easily made a whole movie out of each main story, as there is enough going on with each story to fill up a movie. Trying to figure out and stop a looming zombie apocalypse is interesting (will they figure it out in time to hold off the apocalypse?). A boyfriend trying to get back to his girlfriend by any means necessary would definitely be a thrilling movie. And a story about friends trying to get through each day in the midst of terrible danger, while one of the friends has a far off family situation that she can’t influence because she’s so far away, is heartbreaking. Emanuel found the essential beats for all of those stories and included them in Staycation, and the strategy works. The TV show and YouTube bits generally work, too, although those sections of the movie could have used some trimming and a better sense of urgency. There are times where Staycation drags a bit, and it’s in those moments where the movie should have played faster/quicker.
The main actors are spot on. Sean Kinney is fantastic as Professor Bellows, a scientist that is trying to fix a terrible situation. Bellows smokes to calm his nerves (it also seems to be the only bit of enjoyment he gets out of his current life, which is sad as hell). You can feel his sense of both hope and dread as he confers with his colleagues while they try to figure out how to stop the apocalypse. Will Professor Bellows be able to save the world, or will it all fall apart? That’s a hell of a burden to deal with.
Bailey Sorrel and Gilles Stricher feel like a real couple as Cathy and Matt. You can tell they love one another as they talk through Zoom, and that Matt will do whatever he has to in order to get back to his girlfriend. I would have liked to see more of Matt trying to get back to America, as I’m sure that would have provided more thrills to the movie. And Sorrell really makes you feel for Cathy as she becomes a zombie. That shouldn’t happen to anyone.
Catherine LaSalle and Lilly Irving are great as Britt and Marnie. Seeing them try to live a somewhat normal life in the midst of the end of the world is fascinating. They go grocery shopping. They sunbathe in the backyard. They eat cereal for breakfast. You wonder if they should be doing any of that, if their time would be better spent preparing for the coming zombie apocalypse. But then, what else are they supposed to do? What if the zombie apocalypse doesn’t happen? You realize in the middle of their story that Britt and Marnie are just trying to use their time as wisely as they know how, given what they know about what’s happening. Britt’s interaction with her parents over the phone will break your heart (it’s what happened to me).
As for Kelli Maroney and Laurene Landon, it’s always a blast to see either of them in anything, but I think people will respond better to Maroney’s part as she has more to do. They’re both funny, though.
I liked Staycation quite a bit. It’s funny and weird and is willing to comment on a recent world event that people may not be interested in or willing to think about all that deeply (again, I think it may take a full decade before we start getting comfortable with the idea of movies commenting on Covid-19). The TV show, podcast, and YouTube moments could use some trimming/go by faster, but they’re all interesting and provide a great basis for the movie’s social commentary and satire. It’s also cool to see a zombie movie that does something a little different with the whole “zombie movie” thing. Will horror fans respond to it? I can’t wait to find out.
See Staycation. See it, see it, see it. Staycation will be released at some point during the summer of 2025 under its new title Apocalypse Death Party. So, you know, be on the lookout for that.
So what do we have here?
Dead bodies: At least 10
Undead bodies: Lots
Explosions: Yes. Sort of.
Nudity?: None.
Doobage: A voiceover. A montage. Footage of civil protests all over the world. The police chasing protestors down the street. Tire fires. Fireworks. A flaming bus. A radio show. A phone call. An attempt to dole out important information to the public. Talk of block by block disease testing. Paperwork. Booze through the mail. Booze drinking. A conversation. Cigarette smoking. Zombies. Putting a zombie in a wheelchair. Cereal eating. Multiple media arguments about whether or not the virus is dangerous. Grocery shopping. Complaining about the anniversary of name brand booze. Off screen sex (maybe). Trying to get “fashionable” with masks and gloves. House cleaning. Broom throwing. Loads of conspiracy bullshit. An internet show about science. A prick joke. An infection test. A social media taste test. Social media bullshit. Multiple vitamin commercials. Farmers arguing amongst themselves. A frying pan weapon. Zombie barfing. A dancing clown commercial. A survivalist video from Australia. Attempted online gun purchase. A stack of money. More cigarette smoking. Gun bag stealing. A town hall meeting. Stuff happening in Iran. A full on zombie attack. A driveway zombie eating. Driving around. Booze drinking while driving.
Kim Richards? None.
Gratuitous: Multiple Zoom calls. A bottle of brandy. A still photo of cooking. Men in hazmat suits. A zombie control facemask made of metal. A “Love You, Mom” coffee mug. A guy in Japan eating while participating in a Zoom call. Fuzzy bunny slippers. “Business up top, fun on the bottom.” Analyzing public polls. Multiple Klown Vitamins commercials. Facemasks. A first-person video game playing in the background. Facetime. Angelica the fashionista. The Making Tea Hour. Kelli Maroney. Zombies in someone’s backyard. Kelli Maroney wielding a broom. Hot babes sunbathing. Hot food distribution. Japanese standup comedy. Chicken tender eating. A right wing podcast. Sardines and asparagus. Laurene Landon portraying an online wine influencer. An old dubbed martial arts movie joke. A vegan blogger that blames meat eaters and the meat industry for the spread of the virus. Cardboard boxes of meatballs in the background. A 9mm Beretta. A Twitch videogame streamer. An Iranian scientist. Staring at a big bag. A woman driving with a framed picture of her two cats in the front seat of her car. A patch that says “Bad Decisions Make Good Stories.” A podcast sponsored by Red Lobster.
Best lines: “I did say this would be over in a year. Maybe sooner. Good day, gentlemen.” “Wait, this isn’t a ‘Dear John call,’ is it, Matty?” “It’s not a castle, it’s more like a mountain resort.” “I don’t know what to say, it tastes like really expensive water.” “Hon, tell me about the first time that we met.” “Matt, I need to tell you something. That you’re secretly a superhero with a liver made from dead Irish saints?” “Now I see what the fuss is all about.” “My condolences.” “Hey, is that sake? Yeah, hot sake.” “Big D for everyone!” “I swallow Big D every morning!” “You literally just had your own personal coffee angel encounter and you don’t know?” “Are foam nunchucks weapons?” “Hello, my little pumpkin pie!” “I added a little whiskey to that tea recipe you gave us last week. Oh. How did that make you feel? Drunk.” “She doesn’t have kids. She has no cats.” “Health hazard? I’ll give you a health hazard!” “Didn’t you hear the world has been ending since religion was invented? So, like 1800?” “Have you ever tried DMT?” “Did you look for batteries?” “Needs garlic!” “Hug a wanderer? These people have lost their minds!” “We all need zinc!” “I’m sure the more you drink, the better it tastes.” “Let it be known that the capital Necromancer can indeed solve the country’s labor shortage.” “What… was that?” “And what did I tell you about posture?” “The signs. I see them everywhere.” “Ugh! We’re sitting ducks in our own home!” “Do you always crack a wise ass remark when we do this? Yes, yes I do.” “What was buried with that mummy in that sarcophagus four thousand years ago?” “The truth is in the shadows, and I have the flashlight.” “All of the gun stores are out of guns and ammo!” “This is a really ridiculous place to meet up.” “Hey, I know you? Yeah, you’re that anarchist nutjob.” “Yes. Very grounded.” “Wait, you know the lead immunologist for the Iranian government?” Do you think the mullahs would come out to play? Sure, why don’t I get the President to call the Ayatollah and ask him if he can do him a solid?” “Bite transmission! This is the next phase!” “I’m more of a seafood guy.”
