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World War Z – Spoiler Free Script Review

Had many a request to bump this back to the top, as I aim to please, here you go! Now, I'm gonna' go build my Lobo. - AD

Ever since I read World War Z (and the Zombie Survival Guide), I've stated that all other films, comics, and books live under the shadow of Max Brooks. That isn't to say he was the first to take the genre as 100% serious and realistic, he isn't. However, there is something to Max Brooks’ work that makes his world of the undead wholly believable and in doing so; his vision of a world overrun by the undead is both terrible and all too human. Every time I read World War Z, which I do every few months, I try to imagine how I would write or shoot the cinematic version of World War Z. Every time I envisioned the film, I prayed to all the Lords of Kobol the screenwriter would avoid a straight narrative. World War Z is the Band of Brothers of the undead world. Thankfully, J. Michael Straczynski is of a like mind when it comes to the global war against Zack.

Tonally, JMS flat-out nailed World War Z. He also added something new, something unexpected…

The author is now a central character and not a simple observer. Straczynski’s choice creates a sense of connection between the reader (and viewer) with the events in WWZ. We learn why this man is willing to risk his life to get these interviews. Why he is driven to tell the human element of the global zombie war. Thankfully, WWZ is not a straight narrative in the truest sense of the word. Yes, the script has a beginning, middle, and end. However, like the novel, JMS pens the interviews in a series of flashbacks and character voice-overs. While I am not the biggest fan of the use of a narrative voice-over. (Most of the time it is used to cover up poor plotting). It works in World War Z; indeed, I would argue it is 100 percent necessary. It isn’t enough that we see the horrors of the past war, we need to hear it in the survivors own words. In the hands of a skilled director, these flashbacks will be chilling and gut wrenching.

How much of the book survived?

Most of the book made the transition into the script, though not as direct conversions. The book spans the globe and many years, it simply wouldn’t have been possible for JMS to bring every chapter into the screenplay. Often, Straczynski mixed and matched multiple key elements and characters from the book and turned them into one scene in the screenplay. This works most of the time. I was slightly disappointed that some of the political elements were glossed over. Part of the horror of World War Z resides in the fact that most governments refuse to acknowledge the global crisis and/or put on a pathetic attempt to protect their citizens. Again, I don’t want to spoil any key scenes in the script, but fans of the book will find themselves wondering why one political angle was picked over others. (If you really need to know, drop me an email. and I’ll let you know).

The question all fans of World War Z want to know…

“Aaron, come on, tell me how Straczynski handled the Battle of Yonkers?” Very well and not at all when I expected the battle to happen. Book fans know the Battle of Yonkers is a key moment in the World War Z novel. It is the moment when America and most of the world learns their modern weapons of war are all but useless against endless hordes of the walking dead. As read, JMS crafted a truly horrifying scene. I don’t want to reveal details, suffice to say, the Battle of Yonkers reminded me of a petrifying version of Helms Deep…sans the heroic rescue by the Rohirrim and lopping off an arm or two isn’t enough to stop the horror. This film is not going to be pretty. While I doubt we’re going to get over the top gore, what will make it onto the screen is going to be terrible. As all things in World War Z, the violence and gore are firmly grounded in reality and the horrors will hit you hard.

The script demands a serious director.

By that I mean, World War Z needs a director that takes the material as 100% true. If World War Z is truly going to assault the audience, a director needs to treat the script like a documentary. Don’t pull punches. Don’t wink and nod at the audience. When the credits finally roll, the audience will, in the hands of Frank Darabont, David Fincher, or even The Gift or A Simple Plan era Sam Raimi, find themselves looking around every corner and listening for the tell-tale moan. While based on the novel, Straczynski’s script stands alone as a classic in the zombie genre. Indeed, with the right cast and direction, World War Z could stand as one of the strongest dramas in the last decade. In a way, JMS added a new element to Max Brooks’ initial vision of a global zombie war. With The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and the Straczynski script; Max Brooks’ tale is finally complete.

The script had me clamoring for the film and really, what better compliment can one give a screenplay?