REVIEW: ‘Outside’ Explores Generational Trauma In A Zombie Apocalypse

Outside, directed and written by Carlo Ledesma, follows the family as they struggle to survive until help can be found. Francis (Sid Lucero), his wife Iris (Beauty Gonzalez), and their children Josh (Marco Masa) and Lucas (Aiden Tyler Patdu) head for the farm Francis grew up on to try to weather the ravages of the zombie apocalypse. Already on rocky terms with each other, the family’s stress only grows as the pressure of their situation mounts, and Francis’ childhood trauma at the hands of his father returns to haunt him.

The greatest monster is man. This theme appears frequently in horror, as many of the worst acts perpetrated in the genre are not done by monsters but by some twisted example of humanity. Whether it’s to make a grasp for power or to shore up their sense of self-worth, there is always someone who is going to take actions that go too far. In Outside, that individual is Francis.

From the film’s early moments, when the family reaches his childhood farm, it quickly becomes clear that things are not okay with the family man. Haunted by memories of an abusive father who committed acts that seem to border on torture, Francis quickly begins to be warped by the generational trauma he carries. As his mental state deteriorates, it quickly becomes clear that the zombies are not the family’s biggest problem.

Lucero does a great job delivering the lead character’s shifting emotions. As he oscillates from hateful to joyful and back, the actor handles the shifting mood with great effect. Even better, though, are the times when Francis is confronted with the specter of his father. The angry matriarch collapses in on himself so swiftly that it shocks. The viewer cannot help but feel sorry for the man, even as they actively hope his family can escape his clutches.

Another significant factor that helps craft Francis’ character is his relationship with Iris. While it isn’t clear until later in the film what precisely the issue is between them, it is clear from the get-go that there is a problem hovering between them that isn’t zombie-related. How Lucero and Gonzalez build the marital tension throughout the film is aptly done.

While the married couple stands at the center of the film, the rest of the family also carries their share of the film splendidly. The height of the cast’s performances rests with Gonzalez and Patdu. In one particularly brutal scene, the mother and son weather one of the most wince-inducing moments ever experienced in any medium.

Despite mostly being a four-person film, Outside does see an occasional visitor appear on the farm. These unexpected guests are wonderful catalysts to kick up the tension at just the right times. These appearances also provide the necessary elements to keep the family’s dynamics turning at an engaging pace.

Outside makes a choice to help maximize the family’s impact: it does not explore the larger situation. When we join the family, they are already on the road in a van that’s barely holding together. The film never spends a single sentence on the background of the larger situation. Given how intimate a story the film tells, this is an excellent choice.

Another unique element that helps enhance the situation is that the zombies are dying. Adhering to a more grounded approach to the concept than many iterations, the undead are actively breaking down in this film. This makes the increasing threat Francis poses to his own family all the worse as safety seems to be inching ever closer to them.

The only major misstep that Outside makes is in the early moments. For a considerable length of time, the film has no musical accompaniment. While it’s clear that the silence is intended to build tension, it fails at this endeavor. The lack of music coupled with little dialogue in the opening scenes makes the first stretch of the film a struggle to get through. Once it picks up, though, it never lets go.

Outside‘s approach to horror is one of the most effective we see. Rather than focus on other monsters themselves, it uses the threat they pose to explore humanity’s dark and damaged sides, making us see where the true monsters can lie.

Outside is streaming now on Netflix.