Carl Roberts 
“Zero is one of those films that comes around and deserves its time to shine in the spotlight.” We review Jean Luc Herbulot’s Zero.
Coming to cinemas this Friday is the action comedy, Zero. The movie is written and directed by Jean Luc Herbulot. It stars Hus Miller, Cam McHarg, Gary Dourdan, Roger Sallah, Moran Rosenblatt, and Willem Dafoe. With its blend of action, violence and comedy, can the film explode into life, or does it fizzle out like a damp squib?
THE PREMISE
Two American strangers searching for purpose in the city of Dakar, Senegal, wake up with bombs strapped to their chests, counting down from ten hours.
THOUGHTS
With a premise concerning two men with explosive vests strapped to their chests, you’d be forgiven for thinking it won’t contain much in the way of comedy. You’d be mistaken. For every dramatic and explosive moment, some outstanding comedic elements emerge. For every mission the pair undertake, there’s a brief and often amusing interlude. It isn’t all about violence and the like. There is a deeper meaning lying under the surface. The film also contains some genuine surprises and several twists that are hard to see coming. Add in some tension and a genuine concern for the two protagonists, and we get an effective little movie.
THE CAST
Surprisingly, the film doesn’t contain too many leading roles, which is to its credit. The pair we follow throughout are played by Hus Miller as #1 and Cam McHarg as #2. This is about as much as we are going to know about the duo, with the exception of a few flashback moments scattered throughout. Miller plays the more reserved of the pair, while McHarg plays the muscled, strong, mostly silent foil. Both give terrific performances as men who have their secrets but don’t know why they’ve been thrown into this predicament. Each mission the pair are assigned all lead towards a bigger picture, a higher goal, if you will. We shouldn’t care about either man, but we find ourselves hoping that they can survive the terror they face, to live to tell the tale.
Gary Dourdan as Daniel appears around three-quarters of the way through the film. Daniel comes across as a kind, friendly, peaceful man who is also caught up in the events we are witnessing. Dourdan is a fine actor. Alongside Miller, Dourdan is also one of the film’s producers. And it shows in his performance. We can never really get a handle on Daniel until almost the film’s climax. He keeps us guessing as to who he is and why he’s involved. The answer, when we learn it, is chilling as well as all the more tragic. While Moran Rosenblatt as India, in a small but vital role, is wonderful. She also has us in stitches during her brief screen time.
WILLEM DAFOE
The leading player in the film is one we don’t ever see; we only hear. Willem Dafoe as the voice on the phone, a sadistic puppeteer, is a revelation. From the second we hear his voice, we are on edge. His dulcet tones convey friendship, warmth and humility. At no time does Dafoe use his voice in a threatening manner; his vocal threats are done without raising his voice. It is a chilling role that suits the actor perfectly. We know he’s the villain of the piece, that his motives are shady.
However, we can never get a proper handle on what he’s trying to achieve or why he’s chosen these two men for such a mission. All we know is that the threats he makes so softly to the two men are genuine, that he will end their lives in a heartbeat. If there’s an MVP in the film, it is Willem Dafoe.
WRITING AND DIRECTION
The writing and direction from Jean Luc Herbulot are effective throughout. The way he uses his locations to tell the story and propel the movie forward is excellent. Add in a plot that feels convoluted but is, in reality, anything but, and the Congolese director has created a neat little movie that belittles its small status. This is independent filmmaking at its finest. That being said, however, the final revelation of what the film has been about and why this has all happened is a little disconcerting and confusing. That’s not to say the climax is as expected, as it certainly isn’t. It comes as a welcome surprise, one that we don’t ever expect. And the final shot of the film sends a chill down the spine.
VERDICT
Zero is one of those films that comes around and deserves its time to shine in the spotlight. It surpasses many of those big Hollywood blockbusters that infest the local multiplexes. Instead of the latest CGI-heavy, multi-million-dollar summer movie, it is a smaller and more thought-provoking film. It’s one of those gems that opens quietly in the cinema but deserves so much more, and to be treated much better than it does. It holds its flag up for independent movies and cinema against the might of the Hollywood studios.
It isn’t all plain sailing, sadly. There are some elements, plot points and devices that seem to cheapen the impact of what the film is trying to convey. While highlighting its issues with certain aspects of the world, it doesn’t quite resonate fully. And that is a shame, as the film has so much to offer. At a brisk 88 minutes in length, the film tells its story and has some fun along the way, offering the audience a fun, if uneven, cinematic experience. By the time the counter clicks towards zero, the audience will be hooked by what they see on screen. Hardly a second is wasted. Not exactly comfortable viewing, but a fun way to lose some time. Occasionally brutal, the film is well worth the time invested in it.
Zero will be in cinemas from this Friday.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
