The new four-piece “Ghost Stories” film anthology from Netflix features one zombie narrative by Indian director Dibakar Banerjee. In an interview he states that the driving force behind his horror film is the fear of extinction. “We all know that we won’t be around after a few years, and that scares us. Also, as a group of people, we might not be around… and that could happen sooner rather than later. If that fear of group extinction is embedded in a story, no matter what the plot is, then that works. The best zombie films, right from the European and American zombie films from the ’60s and ’70s to now, have that core… where you are about to be wiped out.”I have yet to watch the series, but I am certainly looking forward to it as Banerjee may be one of the few Indian filmmakers who doesn’t automatically trip to comedic mode when working with the iconic zombie. The zomcom is one of those approaches to the zombie narrative that I still have trouble enjoying because so many filmmakers seem to have trouble finding the right balance between horror and humor, turning their films into silly and immature romper rooms. When done well, however, the zomcom can be a powerful vehicle.
In other reviews of the “Ghost Stories” anthology Banerjee’s work is noted as the most “political” among the four. If that is so, then I look forward to seeing this as I view the zombie narrative as having the most potential for addressing the sociopolitical concerns of the viewer. It is this quality that I most respect. So off I go in search of the “Ghost Stories” anthology. Until then, here’s looking at you, Kid.
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