Sherwood star’s new Channel 4 horror series has a big problem

As a long-time horror enthusiast who’s seen more than my fair share of zombie movies, I was hopeful that “Generation Z” would bring something fresh to the table. Alas, it seems we’re still stuck in the same old rut.

Regardless of its widespread popularity, the horror genre seldom manages to escape criticism or poor reception.

Each year during awards season, The Substance isn’t recognized as a comedy or musical, leaving many horror enthusiasts disappointed. Additionally, high-quality slasher series are rare outside of October, which leaves spooky season craving more terrifying tales to satisfy its appetite.

The prospect of a chilling Sunday night primetime series on Channel 4, featuring zombies, ignited excitement among horror enthusiasts. This new series, titled “Generation Z,” is penned and conceived by director Ben Wheatley, who has previously worked on films like “Meg 2: The Trench” and “Rebecca,” as well as “In The Earth.” The show focuses on the spine-chilling events unfolding in a small town named Danbury.

Featuring Robert Lindsay from “Sherwood,” along with a stellar ensemble that includes Johnny Vegas and Rob James-Collier from “Downton Abbey,” this horror-comedy boasts an impressive lineup of seasoned actors as well as fresh new talents making their screen debuts.

Steff (Lewis Gribben) is a young man deeply influenced by harmful masculinity and extreme male ideologies found online. Kelly (Buket Komur) and Charlie (Jay Lycurgo) are depicted as teenagers, neglecting their A-Level studies, struggling to get by financially, and living a lifestyle centered around partying with Steff.

In a town, when an oil spill occurs near the outskirts, it initially affects care homes, causing their elderly residents to leave their trays and search for something that appears more bloody to consume. If you’ve ever been curious about what Anita Dobson might look like eating human flesh, then this scenario is for you.

Meanwhile, some teenagers in town are oblivious to the approaching epidemic, absorbed in their Snapchat feeds and dancing under flashing lights at lively house parties.

But what’s even scarier than seeing some of the UK’s greatest stars of stage and screen turned into zombies before our eyes (Sue Johnston does a terrific job eating brains)? It’s the outdated stereotypes placed upon the younger cohort of the zombie-infested town which actually make it more likely that you’ll be watching through your fingers.

The main challenge with this television show lies in its approach of tackling every significant societal issue featured on the front pages of national newspapers, by assigning each student character a symbolic role for various contemporary moral conflicts. However, within a six-episode series, it’s unrealistic to expect such comprehensive coverage.

The narrative revolves around themes of intergenerational fairness and societal decline, with allusions to COVID-19 and Brexit from the older characters. At one instance, the undead echo a chant of “They, They, They”, which may subtly reference Generation Z’s more accepting perspective towards gender identity.

However, it can be challenging to discern the intent behind conversations, especially when they seem to incorporate numerous social issues as a means to highlight differences between generations within society. The boundary between dialogue and social commentary appears blurred in such cases.

From a spectator’s perspective, it’s incredibly disappointing and striking when watching a cast of teenage characters that seem to be created by adults. While it’s true that adults are quite capable of crafting multi-dimensional and nuanced teenage characters, the portrayal in Generation Z falls short, reducing these teens to nothing more than superficial stereotypes.

Even when packed with bloodthirsty zombies, it’s possible to embed hot-topic issues like body image, relationships, sexuality and online safety in a fun and engaging way. But Generation Z fails to give any of these topics the right amount of space, or well-written conversation, for them to be respectfully unpacked.

When authentic Gen Z viewers have enjoyed clever banter and convincing comedy horror in movies like “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” and Ryan Murphy’s ten-year-old hit “American Horror Story”, the standard for relatable tales within imaginative storytelling has been raised significantly.

During the late 2010s and early 2020s, it has become standard to see genuine storytelling in various genres, leading to popular TV series. The Netflix show “Sex Education” seemed like a significant milestone for Generation Z viewers, as many felt they were seeing themselves portrayed honestly through the awkward stages of growing up.

Comedy also strikes a balance in portraying untold narratives, giving actors the freedom to create their own humor. Shows like BBC Three’s “We Might Regret This” and “Juice,” especially the latter which won writer and star Mawaan Rizwan a BAFTA, exemplify how to blend drama, laughter, and relatable situations seamlessly into something that resonates with young viewers without being condescending.

Members of Generation Z often seem to resemble what one might imagine younger individuals are preoccupied with, but in truth, they are engrossed in studies, deeply concerned about the environmental crisis, and frequently disengaging from social media.

The Channel 4 program portrays the Love Island generation as individuals who would prioritize their relationships and crushes over genuine survival during a zombie apocalypse, which seems oversimplified given today’s highly engaged Gen Z population in political and social issues.

If you’re searching for an unsettling experience this Halloween, you might want to consider watching “Generation Z –“, although be aware that it will likely scare you in ways that are not traditionally frightening.

Generation Z is available on Channel 4.

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2024-10-28 17:49