'ZombieCON Vol.1' Review: A Gory, Geeky Romp Through Fandom and Flesh-Eating Mayhem
- Romey Norton
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - July 15, 2025
If you've ever wondered what would happen if Comic-Con collided headfirst with a zombie apocalypse, ZombieCON Vol. 1 offers a gleefully gruesome answer. This indie horror-comedy is a micro-budget passion project that wears its love of fandom and undead lore on its fake-blood-spattered sleeve. It’s chaotic, campy, and charmingly clever.
What is 'ZombieCON Vol. 1' about?
ZombieCON Vol. 1 follows a group of cosplayers, who are an unlikely band of friends, trying to survive a zombie apocalypse and save a dear loved one. After a convention and bad run in with some bullies, one cosplayer wishes that all the mean people in the world would turn into zombies so she could kill them. One glow from a magic stone from a weird stranger, and next thing you know, the pizza guy is trying to kill you. Now this group is brandishing prop weapons and pop culture knowledge, trying to make it out alive while surrounded by zombies.
Whilst ZombieCON Vol. 1 has a sci-fi feel to it, it doesn’t try to reinvent the zombie genre, but it does lean heavily into its setting’s potential for satire. The film skewers everything from influencer egos to the cult of celebrity, all while balancing it with a sincere appreciation for nerd culture. The script is peppered with references to everything from The Walking Dead, Shaun of the Dead, to Final Fantasy, and though some gags feel a touch forced, there’s a knowing wink to it all.
The makeup and costumes are great, both in a good and bad way, paying homage and poking fun at the whole world of cosplaying and overly dramatic blood scenes we get in zombie films. The special effects are knowingly DIY. But ZombieCON Vol. 1 embraces its limitations with energy and humour and a bouncy soundtrack.
As with many independent horror-comedies, the acting ranges from solid to serviceable, but it’s the ensemble’s commitment that sells the premise. Everyone is enjoyable to watch and is completely committed to telling this story. A lot of characters lean into stereotypes, and the actors play into these caricatures. There’s the washed-up child star, the overly intense cosplayer, the delusional survivalist, and while these roles could easily fall flat, they manage to keep the pace and story steady.
The runtime is a little long at 1 hour and 50 minutes - it takes a lot to keep an audience invested and engaged, and sometimes I needed more than bright costumes and synth music. The characters don’t have a strong development, and some of the characters aren’t likable, (all a bit high-strung and hard-faced in the where the comedy doesn’t always come through) so some audiences might struggle with that character's allegiance. And whilst I appreciate scene setting and character building, it did take too long for the zombies to appear.
Is 'ZombieCON Vol. 1' worth watching?
Yes. It’s a love letter to conventions, zombie movies, and the weird community spirit that binds geeks together, even during the end of the world. With its genre-savvy script, energetic cast, and unapologetic weirdness, ZombieCON Vol. 1 is destined for cult status among horror-comedy fans. And with a title like Vol. 1, we can only assume (and hope) there’s more undead madness to come. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take as long to get into the zombie action.
Craving more horror-comedy gems and indie film deep-dives? Head over to Film Focus Online and explore our latest reviews, features, and film festival roundups. Stay sharp, stay spooky!
