Watching the gradual breakdown of society on Fear the Walking Dead has been fascinating.
While viewers aren't as invested in this group of characters as those who've been through seven kinds of hell in the flagship show, Fear is taking its time, depicting the early days of the zombie apocalypse. Without the constant zombie attacks of The Walking Dead, it has no right to be as breathtaking as it is.
Despite the dictates of logic, the show is working precisely because producers chose to take their time with the story. Something about there being an extremely sparse number of zombies in the world — as opposed to the hordes seen in the original series — lends the drama a more fragile feel. In terms of zombie encounters, the main characters are still innocent, having no idea what's happening, what the world is about to become and what friends or family members might have suddenly joined the undead.
The premiere was a study in impending dread, as viewers knew what was coming while the residents of Los Angeles went about their daily lives. Episode 2 showed their dawning awareness that something world-changing was just starting to unfold, with several characters having their first run-ins with zombies. However, if this new clip is any indication, Episode 3 will ratchet up the tension to stratospheric heights.
There's almost no dialogue in this clip, a slow-burn scene of Cliff Curtis' character Travis driving a group of survivors — including his son and ex-wife — past a quarantined hospital, where at least one zombie makes an appearance. The police are suitably freaked out, as are the passengers of Travis' pickup truck, and no one knows what's going on or what to do.
It's amazing how much terror and dread Fear the Walking Dead is managing to conjure with slow takes and very little dialogue. Budding filmmakers, take note. This is how it's done.
Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays on AMC at 9:00 p.m.
Via: Comic Book Resources
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