Dead Set -- For It

I hesitate to review a TV series that will be difficult for many of you to see. I hesitate even more because I'm giving it an endorsement. But hey... maybe you've got a connection in the UK or something.

The series I'm talking about is the six-episode mini called "The Dead Set." Unavailable on DVD in the States, it aired a while back on IFC in one glorious microburst. It has rather a lot in common with The Walking Dead, in that it's a zombie apocalypse tale told without sugar-coating any of the gross realities such a situation would bring, and taking advantage of the longer running length of several hours to build up some interesting characters.

It also has a wickedly funny and clever premise. The story revolves around the actual reality show Big Brother, in which contestants are forced to live together around the clock in a house wired with cameras. When the zombie infestation comes, these quarreling drama whores in their hermetically sealed environment are in an ideal situation to survive. But if they're primed to fight over nothing, how are they likely to do when there actually is "something" going on?

The Dead Set doesn't punch you in the gut as effectively as The Walking Dead, but that's not surprising, given the much more comedic premise. While this series isn't actually a comedy as such, it makes sure to collect every joke along the road, whereas the laughs on The Walking Dead are few and far between. I recognized none of the actors in the series, though each does a fine job of depicting their designated reality show archetype thrust into this supernatural situation.

I rate the mini-series a B, and certainly instruct horror enthusiasts to seek out any means they can to get hold of a copy. Perhaps that will take waiting around until next Halloween or something and keeping the DVR scouring IFC or BBC America. Perhaps you can find it online somewhere. In any case, it's an enjoyable zombie story.