The are two constants in this world, states Isaac Ezban’s quirky coming-of-age-in-a-zombie-apocalypse film Párvulos– family, and change. Forced to rely on each other after the collapse of the entire world, three squabbling brothers struggle to survive in their remote forest home. They hunt, they forage, they hide from strangers….they study the zombie disease by observing two undead creatures they keep chained in their basement. Oh, and it’s also technically a Christmas movie if you’re looking to add some more intestine eating into your holiday watchlist 🙂
Directed by Ezban (The Similars), who co-wrote the film with Ricardo Aguado-Fent (Disappear Completely), Párvulos (which translated means “Toddlers”) is a dizzying and surprisingly cute transmission from the afterworld. Without seeing empty streets and burned-out buildings, you know that these boys are clawing their way out of a hole that’s been dug by a catastrophic, earth-shattering event. The trappings of a 21st century life are around them but they might as well be living back in the 1900s. There’s talk of a cure but it’s as mythical to them as a Chupacabra or hot running water. Still, they analyze and examine their zombie prisoners for changes in their personality and condition in hopes that they can discover a way back to the world they remember.
“Surprise: Párvulos technically a Christmas movie if you’re looking to add some more intestine eating into your holiday watchlist”
Like a mini think tank of amateur scientists, they feed the zombies rats and debate about what effect the critters have them. The oldest. Salvador (Farid Escalante) believes the ghouls are a lost cause but his brothers (played by Mateo Ortega and Leonardo Cervantes) are more optimistic. It doesn’t exactly seem safe to keep flesh-eating monsters as pets but this is a zombie movie after all, and we all know the #1 danger in zombie movies is: * drumroll * Humans! And naturally, it isn’t long before the brothers’ cozy spot in the woods is discovered and the real trouble begins.
Párvulos is a lot of fun. It’s super gross up top (including a buffet of vermin) but surprisingly cute. Some zombie movies can feel overly nostalgic for a time that’s gone forever, but Párvulos only delves into the past when absolutely necessarily. It’s a really well written story, and one that prefers for you to learn about these characters on your own, through their actions and emotions. It’s a risk to dangle an entire story on three child actors but Aguado-Fent, Ortega, and Cervantes really knock it out of the park. And shout out to a late appearance from Mexican madman Noe Hernandez (We Are The Flesh) who is always an unknown quantity and never misses an opportunity to be the most crazed person in a scene.
“…A coming-of-age family drama oozing with blood and guts and roadkill.”
The coming-of-age template is about as formulaic as the zombie blueprint but Párvulos has a bunch of unique little flourishes to help make that bitter pill go down easier. The cinematography as well can be a challenge at times, either uncomfortable close and frantic or going for wider interior setups that warp on the edges of the image and leave characters out of focus. It’s something that’s been bothering me about a lot of modern digital shooting, with cameras and lenses being pushed to their absolute limits, but it’s definitely a choice for this particular story.
Uncomfortability is clearly the goal. Which is what makes its humor and heart such a strong component. Despite the grime and slime, Isaac Ezban’s Párvulos has a lot of charm. Especially for a coming-of-age family drama oozing with blood and guts and roadkill.
“Despite the grime and slime, Isaac Ezban’s Parvulos has a lot of charm”
Isaac Ezban’s Párvulos celebrated it’s US Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024 in Austin, Texas. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival, and let us know whether or not you think it’s a good idea to keep zombies as pets, over in the official Nightmare on Film Street Discord!
