One short film from the Masters of Horror Showtime series had the guts to challenge both the politics of Iraq, insult the Republican Party and challenge the tenets of the zombie film all at the same time. This is Homecoming.
The basic idea is that “Potis” is up for reelection. The writer, screenwriter and director make it abundantly clear that they are making fun of George W. Bush in the film. One of the Republican Party’s chief campaign tacticians, during a televised interview, brings up his brother, a Vietnam casualty, saying that he wishes his brother could come back from the dead and tell the nation how proud he was of doing his duty for his nation. “Potis” steals the emotional, familial reference for a national address, only saying this about those who have died in Iraq. The dead of Iraq rise up for the strangest reason of all outside of Chicago. They come back to vote.
This entire hour-long short movie is a beautiful satire, and happens to be one of the best Masters of Horror episodes aired. It leaves no stone unturned by taking potshots at pretty much everyone with any sway in the conservative side of the nation. Even the character Jane Cleaver is an open insult towards the overly zealous Ann Coulter.
As for its political commentary on the war, it does everything short of saying that the war in Iraq was started based off a lie. Oh wait. They have one of the Iraq War’s dead actually saying “I’ve seen women and children killed for a lie. I’ve seen friends killed for a lie. I was killed for a lie.” Oops. Well, this part will be true. It doesn’t say that the war in Iraq was made through horse [expletive] and elbow grease. Wait. That’s wrong, too. Both of the chief campaign tacticians and PR people for the presidency say it. Well I guess it takes about as many shots as possible at the current presidential administration and conservative side of American society as possible – and it is glorious.
In terms of challenging the tenets of the zombie flick, while still being a zombie flick, it takes a George A. Romero-style return to basics. The biggest difference is the fact that they actually talk and vote. They also just don’t die, taking a turn towards the comical Return of the Living Dead. They are still slow moving; however, being former soldiers has made them even more relentless when they are forced to strike. They also are rather specific on who they target once they are forced to strike, rather than the standard frame of zombie thought that reduces anything that moves down to food. Some of the scenes are near exact copies of past zombie classics. Nonetheless, it works like a charm and pays tribute to all of the best zombie genre masters
Homecoming is hilarious, uncompromising and poignant for a horror movie. This is something anyone with a pulse should watch this election year. Enjoy the lovingly hellish view of American politics in motion.
If you wish to know more about the zombie campaign to preserve democracy in America, Jonathan Gronli can be reached at jon.gronli@gmail.com.