Horror Favourites – Josh Monkarsh

In a world gripped by a zombie apocalypse, where chaos reigns, one independent film is set to offer a unique blend of comedy, horror, and romance. As We Know It, directed by Josh Monkarsh, takes us back to the late 1990s in Los Angeles, where a struggling writer, James Bishop, finds himself navigating the ups and downs of a messy breakup while facing an impending apocalypse.

The film’s quirky plot unfolds as James, portrayed by the talented Mike Castle (Brews Brothers), struggles with writer’s block in his Hollywood Hills home, trying to complete his latest book amidst the chaos. His eccentric best friend, Bruce, played by Oliver Cooper (Project X), shows up with alarming news: Los Angeles is in turmoil due to a bizarre zombie outbreak, caused by tainted soy milk.

With the city overrun by the undead, James, Bruce, and James’s ex-girlfriend, Emily, played by Taylor Blackwell (Designated Survivor), come together to barricade themselves in the house. This unlikely trio is forced to confront their personal struggles while rekindling lost love and, of course, avoiding being turned into zombies. And for sustenance, they occasionally let in the only food delivery service still operating, Abracadabra.

Below director by Josh Monkarsh talks about his favourite horror film:

“I first stumbled upon Maximum Overdrive when watching USA Networks Up All Night with Rhonda Shear in the early 90s. I was a little bit confused at first, because I didn’t know if I was watching a horror or comedy and that’s the exact moment I knew I was going to love this movie. Not your typical “horror” film by any means, however, whether intentional or not, King arguably created one of the first modern style comedy/horror’s of the 20th century with Maximum Overdrive. Bold statement, but there’s a lot of themes that can be seen in comedy/horror’s like “Zombieland” and “Save Yourselves!”.

Much more so than earlier horror parody’s like “Piranha” and “Saturday the 14th”, both great films, but don’t hold a candle to Maximum Overdrive. Filled with plenty of gruesomely hilarious moments like when we witness a baseball coach’s head get empaled by a flying soda can — or a bible salesman get decimated by a big rig, there’s never a dull moment. But aside from the occasional head crush or human/truck smash, I really love the character development, combined with the 80s nostalgia. As silly as it is; there’s also something comforting about watching these perfect strangers hole up in a gas station diner, while waiting out the mechanical apocalypse.

There’s a real camaraderie that evolves on screen between those who decide to stay put and “strategize” vs those who foolishly venture outside and meet their maker in the form of a big rig with a Green Goblin face. Audiences also have the privilege of watching peak Emilio in his element, totally owning and selling the role of Bill Robinson; who before that day was just your ordinary short order cook at a random truck stop.

Armed with a memorable soundtrack by AC/DC; Who Made Who, this film is one of my favorites that’s an easy watch and has stood the test of time. Sure, most critics despised it; saying the problem was the script and yes it had a flaw or two, but this film isn’t so much about the story as it is the character development — and it should get a pass because of this. Long live Maximum Overdrive!”

Read our review of As We Know It HERE and check out the trailer below: