Z For Zachariah

As post-nuclear apocalyptic films go, "Z for Zachariah" is a mild, sometimes sluggish, somewhat compelling addition to the genre.

More "On the Beach" than "Mad Max" in its approach (although nothing like either in style), "Z" is based on the 1974 novel by Robert C. O'Brien, and explores the lives of the last three survivors on Earth, or at least in these Southern U.S. parts (wherever that might be).

The fittingly named Ann Burden (Margot Robbie) lives alone in her strangely protected valley, somehow shielded against the radiation fallout. Has God chosen her? Enter John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who almost fries before she officially meets him when he decides to bathe in contaminated waters. She comes to his rescue and the two begin to work together to survive.

As you can imagine, being the only two people alive comes with sexual attraction (although no real sparks), that is, until gorgeous blue-eyed Caleb (Chris Pine) also stumbles onto this Apocalypse Shangri-La and gives John some competition.

Here's where the film could have truly examined race and maybe even a bisexual triangle (am I asking too much?) but, instead, becomes a rather tedious, obvious piece that is only made interesting by the trio of terrific actors. (Even a potential character menace turns into a red herring.)

Robbie dowdy-downs, transforming herself into a meek and scared little girl. Anyone who saw her in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and/or "Focus" will not recognize her. Ejiofor does his best with a character who is mostly jealous and pissed off. Pine brings intrigue to a role that should have been much richer.

Craig Zobel directs with no real stakes from a banal script by Nissar Modi. I never fully felt that the end of the world was right around the property borders. I understand keeping the film three-handed but Lynn Littman's "Testament" kept things tight and focused while still devastating the viewers.

"Z" does looks smashing on Blu-ray. Besides Pine's popping baby blues, the Arri Alexa-photographed landscapes capture an unease and gloom the screenplay never does. Sound quality is fine.

Thee are three Special Features of note (plus the trailer). "The Making of Z for Zachariah" is an 11-minute behind the scenes look at the film with the actors mostly explaining what we've already seen. The Deleted Scenes show a hint of how racially powerful the film could have been. There are also 20 minutes of Extended Interviews that are worthwhile but, weirdly, do not include Pine.

"Z for Zachariah"
Blu-ray & Digital HD
$19.99
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