A lot of great spooky content dropped for Halloween 2024, didn’t it? Netflix’s docuseries The Manhattan Alien Abduction and the Peacock series Teacup and Hysteria! were the releases I was anticipating most. But a couple of other things snuck up and surprised me, including Netflix’s This Is the Zodiac Speaking docuseries and Prime Video’s Spanish zombie movie, Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. That last one is clearly what I’m focused on here.
Even before I started watching, the title made me wonder if it might be the first in a series. But as I watched, and definitely when I finished, I was hoping for more.
Why?
That’s a fair question since, as far as zombie movies go, Apocalypse Z is pretty standard fare plot-wise. There’s an outbreak, people start turning into ravenous cannibal killers, and the world falls apart.
But it doesn’t happen immediately. There’s a slow burn build-up to the apocalypse that maybe turned some viewers off but increased the suspense for others.
Lúculo
Plus, there’s Lúculo. Kind of like Frodo did in A Quiet Place: Day One, Lúculo steals the show in Apocalypse Z. In my opinion. Then again, I’m a crazy cat lady.
And, yes, he survives. I would’ve instantly stopped watching if any tragedy had befallen sweet Lúculo.
Instead, I admired the divergence the plot took in this respect. Manel (Francisco Ortiz) made saving Lúculo’s life as much a priority as saving his own—or any other character he came across and thought he could help. But he was an unapologetic cat dad, and that just made me root for him even more.
Apocalypse Z Series by Manel Loureiro
Prime Video hasn’t announced a sequel yet, but considering Apocalypse Z has been a hit, I fully expect they will eventually. Especially because I was delighted to discover it was based on the first book of a trilogy by Manel Loureiro.
That means we have Dark Days and The Wrath of the Just to look forward to next. Hopefully. At some point.
Except, even though I’m keen to see if Manel reunites with his sister and nephew, I don’t want to watch if Lúculo’s not part of the deal. Or if anything happens to him. So I cheated and tried to get the spoiler on that.
According to The Tattooed Book Geek, the cat (who’s named Lucullus in the books) is in all three books. So that gives me hope that he makes it through with Manel’s continued dedication to his well-being and will do so in any movie sequels.
Check-In
What releases were you anticipating most for Halloween 2024? They don’t have to be TV shows, documentaries or movies. Books count, too!
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I was anticipating Blood Red Dawn by Joan Hall. It released at the end of October. It’s a mystery story, and one of the characters has the gift of foretelling things. I loved the small-town, New Mexico setting.
That sounds like a good book, Priscilla! Will you be reviewing it for The Well Read Fish?
No, though I did leave reviews other places. TWRF is strictly Christian fiction reviews.
OH!! My bad. I thought Blood Red Dawn might’ve been Christian fiction. Whoops. And that’s why I shouldn’t assume… lol Thanks for gently setting me straight!