The Girl with all the Gifts (5 Stars)

This is a film that takes place in England in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The only survivors are in army camps dotted around the country. The word zombie isn't used in the film. The infected humans are called hungries. Somehow it doesn't sound right to talk about a hungry apocalypse.

Yes, they're definitely zombies, aren't they? Whatever they're called. They're hungry for human flesh. They're not slow like traditional zombies. They run after humans and eat mouthfuls of flesh. Any human who survives turns into another hungry within minutes of being bitten.

When hungries can't find food, they go into a sleep-like trance, standing motionless on their feet. This happens a lot, because more than 99% of the population has become hungries. There aren't enough humans left to eat.

The film begins in an army base somewhere in the south of England. Research is being done into finding a cure. It's been discovered that second generation hungries are halfway between human and hungry. They're hungry for human flesh, but they have normal intelligence. They're children who were born to women who were pregnant when they were first bitten. The scientists at the base believe that by examining these children they can find a cure. It's a long shot, but they have to start somewhere.

Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton) is the teacher responsible for educating the young hungry hybrids. Her favourite pupil is Melanie, the girl in the title. She knows that children are regularly being taken to be dissected, but she doesn't do anything about it until Melanie is selected. She breaks into the laboratory to free Melanie. Normally disciplinary action would follow, but at this moment the hungries overrun the base, and Helen has to flee with Melanie and a few soldiers.

I don't usually like zombie films, but this isn't a zombie film, it's a hungry film. Apart from which, it stars Gemma Arterton, who's been my favourite actress ever since Leelee Sobieski retired. The film is a perfect mix of action and thoughtful scenes.

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