PopHorror Let's Get Scared
It’s been almost a year since the horror romance comedy Burying the Ex (2015) was released in the United States, and after much urging from my horrorphile friends, I finally watched it. My only regret is that I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to give in. What’s not to love? Great actors, interesting characters, witty commentary, and a fun spooky atmosphere. If you haven’t watched it, don’t waste any more time – do it now! Let me tell you why.
Burying the Ex was helmed by legendary Gremlin’s (1984) director Joe Dante, an expert at mixing the right amount of horror and comedy with a splash of romance. Written by Alan Trezza, it tells the story of horror connoisseur Max (Anton Yelchin), whose overbearing, controlling, vegan girlfriend, Evelyn (Ashley Greene), has been getting mighty irritating as of late. When she takes down and folds up his classic horror movie posters for 100% green wall art, Max finally decides he’s had enough. He decides to break it off, but just before he does she gets hit by a bus, and in her last moments, he guiltily promises to be with her with forever. After a short mourning period, he meets a new horror-movie-loving girl named Olivia (Alexandra Daddario), a perfect match for him, but it becomes complicated when his undead yet obsessive girlfriend shows up at his door, wanting to continue where they left off.
This story is horror comedy gold and I loved everything about it. The actors, however, are one of the big reasons this movie is successful. Anton Yelchin can do no wrong! He’s been fantastic in every single role he’s done, creating a huge fan base. Most recently, fans are talking about his upcoming role in the movie Green Room (2016). In Burying the Ex, he plays an adorable horror nerd and his love for horror makes you love him even more. Twilight’s Ashley Greene plays his psychotic zombie girlfriend, Evelyn. Although her role is supposed to be funny and infuriating, she plays the part well. It was nice seeing her as something beyond a sparkly vampire. Texas Chainsaw 3D’s Alexandra Daddario plays Olivia, Max’s new love interest and a fan of everything horror as well. Not only is she beautiful but she runs a unique ice cream malt shop with interesting flavor names such as Frute Brute and Berrying the Ex. Last but not least, Oliver Cooper plays Travis, Max’s sex-obsessed half-brother, who provides witty commentary throughout the entire movie.
The next HUGE selling point is that, as I mentioned, Max is a huge horror fanatic and every fan of the genre will be able to relate to him and his desire to find someone who shares his obsession. He not only surrounds himself with horror props and posters – including rare, imported ones – but he also works at a Halloween shop and has a dream to open his own horror store. He knows tons of horror trivia and enjoys all of the classics. Need I say more?
In general, the story was done well, with the right mix of horror, comedy and romance. Yes, there is a love story within the movie, but it doesn’t completely focus on that. The fact that the budding romantics are both horror addicts gets you rooting for them to end up together right up to the very end. Horror fiends unite! Beyond the love story is an awesome zombie tale with plenty of blood, slime, and guts to keep genre fans coming back for more. The comedy allows for nothing to be taken too seriously and supplies some memorable one-liners. Of course, the humor will also grab the attention of a broader audience.
Final Thoughts:
I can’t say one bad thing about Burying the Ex. I enjoyed every minute of it and even though it’s perfect for any time of the year, it focuses on Halloween which is a huge plus. There are some pretty sweet songs throughout the movie that people will enjoy as well and help tie in with the plot. Mostly you’ll fall in love with the characters and the story, and it will probably have you reminiscing about October, just like it did for me. Luckily for anyone interested in this movie, Burying the Ex is currently streaming on Netflix, so check it out now before it leaves!
