Rotten Treatment

Title: Rotten

Rotten is a mockumentary film set in present day England that examines how individuals in modern society would cope if they had to live alongside Zombies.

The film is shot in a student DSLR documentary style and features a predominantly improvised performance from its cast and crew. 

  

The main objective of the film is to highlight different prejudices against minority groups and explore how the different characters in the film cope with living with the undead.

The film starts off with a montage sequence, which shows there has been a disaster resulting in members of the public becoming infected with a virus that leaves them in a zombie like state. 

The film crew first interview a middle-aged couple- Barry and Amy. The interview reveals that Barry was infected with the virus yet is cared for my Amy who appears to be slightly in denial about the fact her husband is no longer the man he used to be. The scene shows how for many people accepting that their loved ones are no longer with them is difficult emotionally to deal with.

Next we encounter Lew a man with long dreadlocks who campaigns for zombies to equal civil rights. He explains he’s putting on a fundraising night to aid his cause and the crew learns that he is passionate about anyone who exploits the undead for monetary reasons. The interview shows the views of an aggressive liberal viewpoint that is deeply opposed to zombies being used as commodities. The view point is similar to that of animal and civil rights campaigners. 

After this the crew visit a bar run by a man called Mr. K, which has female zombies as dancers to entertain his clientele. In contrast to Lew Mr. K appears to treat the zombies he owns poorly. Despite questions from the crew about his treatment of the girls Mr K. stands firm in his belief that he is a kind man who is trying to make money and save the girls from being neglected. The opinions expressed by Mr K seem very pro-business and appear to have little regard to the welfare of the girls he owns. At the end of the interview Mr. K reveals to the crew that he’s going to purchase an unwanted zombie in the morning and asks the crew if they wish to come along and film the transaction, which the crew agree to. 

The following morning the crew speaks to Grant, a man who is selling his infected girlfriend so he can buy a new Xbox. He seems to be tired of having to care for his wife and doesn't appear to be upset with having to sell her to Mr. K. Mr. K seems happy with his purchase and tells the crew he will take good care of her. This segment shows how easily persons without rights can be exploited in society and also comments on how material goods are sometimes hold too much importance in people’s life.

The final scene of our film starts with the crew discussing how filming Barry and Amy is difficult and they question the woman’s sanity. The final scene of the film shows Amy eating at a restaurant with Barry, after only a few minutes Barry starts behaving poorly – trying to grab other guests and spitting out his food. Amy embarrassed tells Barry off then asks the crew to stop filming. The crew, frustrated agree then without realizing leave a camera rolling, As they pack up their equipment a fifth member of the crew appears in shot, as the crew pack heavy bags on him we see that he is in fact a zombie being exploited and the integrity of the documentary is now called into question.