CELL (2016) ***

Cell acts as a reunion to the Steven King chiller 1408 for stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.  In fact, I’d say that this one is a slightly better film in just about every way.  The opening scene, in which hundreds of people in an airport turn into zombie “Phoners” while talking on their cellphones, is a real grabber.  Even though they are of the 28 Days Later fast-running zombie variety, they have a few unique tricks of their sleeve and the filmmakers make better use of the undead’s hive mentality than World War Z did.   

Admittedly, the film is never quite able to recapture the adrenaline-pumping thrills of that opening scene.  From there on, things get a bit spotty.  Some sections are a bit rushed and a few scenes feel incomplete.  If you’re familiar with the movie’s checkered production history, you’ll probably be able to forgive its sometimes-shoddy appearance and the weak CGI.  Narratively, it’s still not entirely solid (like the inclusion of a menacing red-hooded figure), but Jackson and Cusack are so good together that their chemistry carries the picture whenever it threatens to self-destruct. 

Cell also tackles a question about zombie plagues that only Return of the Living Dead 2 has even dared mention:  The possible existence of zombie celebrities.  The scene where our stars sit around and ask each other, “Do you think Bob Dylan is a Phoner?” is one of the film’s many highlights.

One could say that King’s message is a little too on-the-nose as their cellphone use literally turns people into mindless zombies.  If you think about it though, it’s a message that’s only become more relevant as time goes on.  I mean he wrote the novel in 2006 at a time when most cells were flip-phones and not the gadget-laden app-heavy phones of today. 

A lot of Cell is inconsistent.  In fact, I was initially going to give it ** ½.  However, once the film was over, my phone rang and I had to think twice before picking it up, which is a testament to its overall effectiveness.  You have to respect any movie that has that kind of impact on you.