It Stains the Sands Red (2016)
UHM is an independently owned site that relies solely on ad revenue. We ask that if you like this site and what we do to help support by temporarily disabling ad block (if you're using one). If you'd rather help in other ways you can also send a tip by clicking here (or the button below). Any amount helps and will go towards the costs to maintain the site. Anyone who donates will also be listed in our thanks page.
DIRECTOR:
CAST:
While there’s no right or wrong recipe for a zombie movie, some productions do better than others in the Box Office and fans’ eyes. Two important ingredients are definitely gore and action, but what happens beyond that is up to producers’ imagination. Unfortunately, zombie flicks that go for quirky or meaningful twists don’t always get the approval they were expecting. It Stains the Sands Red is one such production that continues to divide audiences because of its unique premise but ambiguous structure. A comparison with other interesting zombie movies that already exist or will be joining us in the distant future should highlight the pros and cons of Colin Minihan’s creation.
It Stains the Sands Red is a great opportunity to dissect different opinions about what makes a good zombie movie. Minihan has experience in the horror and thriller genres as a writer and director with productions like What Keeps You Alive (2018), Spiral (2019) and Z (2019) to his name. But there are a few things that went wrong with this otherwise good project that have kept it at a humble 5.5 on IMDB. Let’s start with the pros. As far as zombie apocalypse plots go, it’s a refreshing one, if not entirely pleasant. Following the collapse of civilization, Molly, played by Brittany Allen, is an exotic dancer from Las Vegas stranded in the desert on her way out. There she finds herself in the crosshairs of a lone hungry zombie, slow but relentless. She crosses the wasteland towards her destination with him always close behind. Through plenty of classic zombie action, her chequered past and character emerges, explaining why It Stains the Sands Red is classed as Drama as well as Horror.
The premise is good because it breaks away from the chaotic group survival stories and only focuses on one person’s impossible situation. Within the hugely popular zombie theme, Molly’s flawed character evolves as she tries to survive not only being hunted by a zombie but the weight of her own guilt. Determination and redemption are the story’s core themes, which didn’t go unnoticed. In fact, judging by other productions, this solitary zombie apocalypse type of narrative seems to be picking up steam. Matt Naylor’s upcoming Alone follows a similar route, focusing on the physical and psychological struggle of a lone zombie apocalypse survivor.
But why choose zombies at all for this kind of dramatic depth? Because of what they’re worth and what they represent. First off, the undead are hugely popular – the grislier, the better. The range of merchandise is enormous. For example, at Smiffys you can get a liquid latex make-up kit for creating the flesh effect when you want to go as a zombie for Halloween. For digital access to this sub-theme in the horror genre, Betway Casino’s Lost Vegas slot game is one of a range of themed online slot machines. It allows you to join the flesh-eating hoards alongside zombie Elvis. Whether it’s classic gambling entertainment or an emotional story of self-discovery, adding zombies to the mix guarantees distinction and a curious audience.
The question remains, however, of what the zombie apocalypse adds to a narrative. A great representation of such an event’s significance is the Dead of Winter board game by Plaid Hat Games. Each of 2-5 players get to lead their own group of survivors in a zombie-infested world. The main goal for the whole colony may be to survive, but the randomly assigned personal interests also affect how players direct the game. This, like all zombie apocalypse scenarios, basically asks what happens to humanity – its values and structure – when all sense of order and civilization is taken away and replaced with terror driven by hungry, rotting ghosts of what was.
So what does this say about It Stains the Sands Red? The movie makes a valiant effort to tick both the boxes above, while lacing the engaging pace with humor that ups the entertainment value a bit more. That said, it was in the details that things went wrong, specifically in the movie’s unclear ending and nonsensical moments throughout. These are mistakes that often come up in zombie stories, where epic action becomes more important than logic. Getting this balance right is what turns zombie productions into cult classics. A prequel like Rise of the Living Dead probably wouldn’t have been given the green light if the original had messed up in terms of plot and action.
Creating the perfect zombie movie is clearly a welcome challenge for producers as titles upon titles keep coming out. Entire sagas like Resident Evil have left their mark on this genre, taking the fun of gore concept to whole new levels. Back in 2017, Syfy Wire even reported that Dead Snow 3 would introduce a zombie Hitler. We haven’t heard anything since, but Tommy Wirkola’s vision would be a worthy addition to cinema’s unique zombie stories.
But the genre is clearly branching out to include projects with a degree of substance. It Stains the Sands Red, however flawed, is a strong example, paving the way for even more originality. Another movie to look out for is Dead Earth for its subtle social depths and A Quiet Place elements. That is after all how cinema evolves. Movies inspire each other, producers – ideally – learning from others’ successes and mistakes.