ZombieCON Vol 1 is a scrappy indie horror-slasher that mashes cosplay culture with a zombie apocalypse and just enough splatter to keep gore-lovers grinning.
★★★☆☆
Co-written and directed by Kyle Valle, with Erin Áine and Manny Luke also starring, ZombieCON Vol. 1 is equal parts conventional love letter to cosplaying communities, undead romp, and anime-flavoured team quest, all stitched together with DIY charm.
Luke plays Rocket, the hot-headed leader of a cosplay crew called Rocket’s Rockets, rounded out by Claire (Áine), Punkie (Punkie Johnson), and Javier (Christian Casillas). Their whole world revolves around contests for elaborate costumes, and when they finally get the prize for the best cosplaying group, all seems well. That is, until a post-victory run-in with store bullies leaves their trophy smashed and Rocket with a bruised face (and ego).
In response to being constantly harassed and abused by the world, Claire comes into possession of a mysterious talisman. In a fit of rage, Claire makes an accidental wish for “all the a**holes in the world” to turn into zombies. Having recently come into possession of a mysterious talisman, the wish works, and mayhem ensues.
From its premise alone, ZombieCON Vol. 1 knows exactly how absurd it is and gleefully leans into it. This isn’t just cosplayers battling the zombie apocalypse; it throws in an out-of-nowhere magical talisman and a wish that kickstarts the chaos. That kind of audacity earns a certain respect, especially when paired with the film’s surprisingly polished spectacle, given its indie roots. On a reported budget of $60,000, the production team delivers impressively gnarly zombie makeup, brought to life through tight camerawork and convincingly choreographed brawls.
Moreover, the film’s gleeful absurdity makes it the perfect vehicle for celebrating cosplay culture. From its opening moments, ZombieCON Vol. 1 wears its devotion with unapologetic flair. Valle and his co-writers clearly have a deep affection for the community, showcased in an opening montage bursting with lovingly framed shots of elaborate fan creations, like the central group’s near-screen-accurate Guardians of the Galaxy costumes.
Beneath the spectacle lies a story about self-love and resilience, urging fans to embrace their passions and tune out bullies and naysayers. Chief among these human threats is rival cosplayer jock Zander (played with sharp-edged charisma by Carlos Mendez), who is arguably more menacing than the shambling undead.
The core group of heroes is largely likeable and vibrantly drawn, with the cast shining across the board. Johnson and Casillas are standouts, their banter and loyalty feeling pulled from real-life friendships. Aine brings a welcome sweetness to the mix, while Nichole McAuley steals scenes as Rocket’s overprotective mum, radiating a delightfully quirky comic energy. The pre-apocalypse camaraderie is so infectious, you almost wish the gore-fest wouldn’t arrive. Almost.
Unfortunately, protagonist Rocket proves harder to root for. Conceived as an abrasive lead destined to soften, he instead spends much of the first half lashing out at friends and foes alike. Luke has an undeniable presence, but the writing leans so heavily into Rocket’s flaws that, by the time his arc aims for redemption, much of the audience goodwill has already been spent.
This can be troubling for viewers, as the bulk of the story is around Rocket’s anger at the world, leaving the rest of the crew underdeveloped. Punkie and Javier’s lively personalities are underserved, left lingering in Rocket’s shadow. Claire gets some level of development from a hinted-at backstory that involves a toxic relationship. This subplot, however, is barely mentioned again afterwards. It’s particularly jarring as Claire is the one to launch the apocalypse, yet she rarely plays an active role beyond that point. Given Rocket’s baked-in anger at the world, it might have made more narrative sense for him to cast the spell.
The story also suffers from both a lack of setup and payoff. The talisman that sparks the apocalypse appears without explanation, pushes the plot forward, and then vanishes from relevance. Even the climactic showdown against Zander falters. A stock villain monologue (“you and I are more alike than you think”) is dropped into the mix, but it rings hollow. Rocket, for all his impulsivity, never drifts close enough to villainy for the line to land. The film excels as a celebration of friendship and fandom that feels sincere and affectionate, but its character arcs can’t quite match that same level of care.
The Verdict
For zombie movie lovers, there’s fun to be had: enthusiastic performances, moments of heartfelt camaraderie, and enough blood to keep the genre’s gore quota satisfied. ZombieCON Vol. 1 might not reinvent undead cinema, but as a scrappy love letter to cosplay and convention culture, it’s got its own quirky charm.
Words by Joseph Jenkinson
ZombieCON Vol. 1 is available to stream on Prime Video
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