In the introduction to an exclusive screening of Anna And The Apocalypse at the Hippodrome in Bo’ness, director John McPhail said that cinema is a “dying art”. Two words which fittingly describe his second feature (his debut Where Do We Go From Here? recently enjoyed a two-week run at Cineworld Glasgow).

Dying, because it’s a festive comedy in which almost everyone on the planet (including Justin Bieber) are zombified. If only.

And art because, against all expectations, it packs an emotional punch; and through a series of well-crafted songs by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly which develop character, propel the plot and explore issues of importance in a light touch way (when civilisation is on the edge, do we help each other or prioritise?), its depth and poignancy will resonate with audience members below and above its 15 age certificate.

The principle theme being one of yearning to “Break Away” (the title of an early track). Breaking away from the apron strings, breaking away from a small community, breaking away from a dead end job and in one memorable sequence breaking away from the mobile phones and computer screens which increasingly rule our lives in search of a “Human Voice” (another track).

What’s more, thanks to tremendous casting and performances, particularly from Ella Hunt as the titular zombie-slayer who along with the film has been nominated for a British Academy Scotland Award, there’s a real freshness to the film, an honesty and a subtlety, which mirrors a lyric from another stand-out number: There’s no such thing as a Hollywood ending.

Perhaps that freshness also comes from having a largely unknown cast, which includes Malcolm Cumming as Anna’s sweet and charming admirer John and Ben Wiggins as nasty Nick with “a body you could lick chocolate off”. Though Paul Kaye as the Savage by name, savage by nature headmaster, and Mark Benton as Anna’s amiable father Tony, add a certain zing. Particularly Kaye who struts and snarls and sneers with Dick Dastardly glee.

As for my two-word description of Alan McDonald and Ryan McHenry’s screenplay, which was based on an entertaining short by the latter who was lined up to direct the feature before he died of cancer at the age of just 27 (the film is dedicated to him), I turn to Lisa’s (Marli Siu’s) positive critique of her boyfriend Chris’s (Christopher Leveaux’s) school documentary: love it!

With Lisa’s big number at the Little Haven High School Christmas Show providing the biggest laugh-out-loud moments when she excites fathers in the audience with a raunchy rendition of It’s That Time Of Year in which she implores Santa to empty his sack and fill her stocking. Julian Clary eat your heart out!

Having premiered at the 2017 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, and having been shortlisted for an Audience Award at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, Anna And The Apocalypse has secured a distribution deal with Orion Pictures who will release the film towards the end of November. So to ensure you don’t miss out on a ticket for what I predict will be a surefire hit, why don’t you borrow the closing line from Lisa’s sultry solo and ask your partner to “give it to me”.

Peter Callaghan
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