PATIENT ZERO is a random zombie B-movie, British-made but masquerading throughout as an American movie. It's directed in a cheap-looking way with a lot of noise and screaming and shouting but little in the way of sense and zero in the way of originality. A typically unlikeable Matt Smith plays a kind of Dr Doolittle of the zombie world, gifted with the ability to communicate with the undead (give me a break). Stanley Tucci - overacting as always - shows up as the titular character, while the supporting cast is studded with the familiar likes of Natalie Dormer, John Bradley and Clive Standen. Things play out in the most predictable way imaginable, and it really is the kind of film you forget about straight after watching.

Matt Smith tries out his weird American accent in this British made but USA set zombie type thriller.

Dr Gina Rose (Natalie Dormer) and her assistant Morgan (Matt Smith) are working in an underground military facility looking for patient zero. To find a cure of a viral outbreak that has turned humans into rabid monsters.

Morgan has been bitten but has not become infected. He is the only one who can communicate with the infected ones.

However there might be answers when The Professor (Stanley Tucci) arrives in the facility. He is different from the other infected ones. He can be charming as well as calculating. The Professor reveals that they have evolved from humans and they are seeking out someone special.

Patient Zero has interesting but muddled concepts about zombie movies but they do not come off. The ending becomes another carnage filled chase scene which then finishes abruptly.

This is a relatively unmemorable film. The strong points are the performances of Stanley Tucci and Natalie Dormer along with some others, and several novelties that make this different from a typical mindless-zombie film. On the negative side, the overall plot thrust was formulaic, and the zombies themselves seemed a little superhuman at times. That may have been part of the story, but if so it was never explained. Overall, the film was flawed in terms of its approach, but most of us don't have high standards for these types of film. I'm rating it a 6 meaning that it was engaging enough to finish, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you really love this genre.

With a few changes, it would have been a very good TV pilot. The zombies are much better than those in The Walking Dead, which sort of fumble around. Think 28 Days Later.

I am mostly writing a review because of the plethora of 1 star reviews, which seemed unfair. The only thing I can guess is that people who like some of the name actors, but generally don't care for zombie films, took a chance on this and were disappointed.