The movie also had a few other sound issues. There were several instances where the dialogue didn’t match the characters’ mouths, plus some of the dialogue was fuzzy and hard to understand. Since the audio was shot with the on-camera mike, that probably explains the issues. Recording via the camera mic is always a bad idea, since an attached microphone normally doesn’t have enough range or quality to get good sound. (Additionally, the mic on the camera records camera noise that further decreases the quality of your sound.) For future productions, it would be a good idea to invest in and/or borrow a good shotgun mic; it’ll give much better audio. (Read our article on Audio Tips Every Microfilmmaker Needs for more on this.)
Finally, this film used quite a lot of slow-motion. Although this can be a useful tool, I think it was a bit over-done in this case. In addition to the slow visuals, the filmmakers also used the slow-motion audio. In most situations, this isn't a good idea – as it always sounds awful due to the way it distorts the audio, and it’s been used enough in comedies that some audience members might giggle when they are supposed to be gasping. I understand the desire for the dramatic, but it’s best to avoid slowed-down audio if at all possible.
Use of Budget
For a self-described “fun zombie movie,” I can understand why only $200 was spent. And also why this film has had so many issues. I don’t doubt the cast and crew had fun making it – and that’s an extremely important aspect of making a microfilm; it’s not worth doing if you don’t absolutely love it.
If the purpose was to have fun, make a movie, and get some experience, I’d say it’s not a whole lot of money to accomplish all of those things. Most microfilmmakers learn a lot of hard lessons on their first few films, and these filmmakers at least have the advantage to not have spent a lot of money on said mistakes. They have a bit of a grasp on the movie process, they just need some practice.
Lasting Appeal
I don’t know exactly how much experience these filmmakers have, and while Living Dead Lockup has issues, it’s still commendable that they went out and actually made a movie. The film has some interesting aspects – I particularly like the concept, as well as the musical score. However, there’s a lot of things that really need to be fixed in this movie before it could be ready for an audience.
Since these filmmakers have made a couple other movies (the sequel to this film is being reviewed in this issue, in fact), this could possibly be chalked up to a learning experience, or the concept could be set aside for a time when more money and resources are available.
Overall Comment
The story of an escape from prison has always been the subject of movies – from John Wayne to The Shawshank Redemption; even the modern tv drama “Prison Break.” Normally, however, the desire to escape from prison is motivated by either innocence or frustration with captivity. In the case of Living Dead Lockup, however the threat of zombies inside the prison raises the necessity of escape to an entirely different level.
