Surviving the Outbreak: A Desperate Journey to Safety

In a world where horrible parasites are taking over human bodies and transforming them into zombie-like creatures with a mad desire to kill, a group of survivors are holed up in an abandoned warehouse. The world they live in is simple: get bitten, and you turn. Luckily, a bus will be arriving shortly to take the group to a new destination: a castle-style theme park. Here, they hope to be outstandingly safe and take up the fantastic opportunity to start a new community. After all, who can resist the allure of living in a castle?

Flight for Survival: Charlie’s Fight Against Relentless Terror

However, the group’s plan is soon interrupted when zombie-like creatures attack the warehouse, including the survivors themselves. Among those fighting to stay alive is Charlie (Jeanette Coppolino), who carries a firearm at all times due to her background in security.  Amid the chaos and bloodshed, Charlie manages to escape along with a few other members of the group, including a mute young girl (Ellie Stewart). Now, Charlie and the remaining survivors are on the run, keeping their eyes on the prize of reaching their new destination. Along the way, they encounter other survivors and oddball characters who are also trying to stay alive, with plenty more bloodshed along the journey. Making matters worse, a massive zombie seems to track them relentlessly, impossible to evade. Can Charlie and the survivors survive the ultimate horror and reach safety before it is too late?

Residence: A Bold Genre-Bending Debut from Matt Mirams

Residence combines a mixture of genres, including comedy, bloody horror, and minor elements of thriller and mystery. The film was written, produced and directed by Matt Mirams. Residence also marks Mirams’ feature-length directorial debut, though his previous work includes various short films such as The Grand Scheme, The Undateable George Gibbs, Deep Sea Fishing, and more.

Relentless Carnage and a Colourful Cast of Survivors

The film’s tagline promises a high body count, and having seen the movie, I can confirm this is absolutely accurate, even from the opening scene alone. The body count is massive, and any character introduced on-screen has a strong chance of either turning into a monster or being brutally slaughtered and splattered.  Alongside the many deaths, Residence is packed with a variety of characters whom Charlie encounters on her dangerous journey. Each character is distinct and different from one another, adding a bit of playful fun to this chaotic zombie world.

Wacky Comedy and Dark Humour Amid Chaotic Carnage

The comedy in Residence often feels loud, wacky, and almost spoofy. The characters have random lines of dialogue and come with backstories and backflashes to complement them, such as Ian Smith as Mike the Thaumaturge, an ex-magician, or Luke Benson as Tim the Vacuous, a former vacuum cleaner salesperson and inventor.  With such a wide array of talent and characters, not every character comes across as likable or funny, but several do stand out, clearly showing on-screen that they are having a great time with the material. While much of this is done for comedic value, there are plenty of deaths that result from poor or foolish decisions, which some viewers might find frustrating or annoying. One particularly memorable death involves a character discovering that a girl he once had a crush on has become a zombie and decides that even though he’s human, he should give a relationship a go. Well, we all know how that ends.

Simple Plot with Creative Execution, Despite Some Pacing Issues

The plot and storyline are straightforward, and given the strong comedic element, this simplicity works perfectly. We follow our heroes as they attempt to reach a single destination, only to encounter more characters, more death, and more villains along the way.  There are several moments where the film drags, particularly after the first hour, and the lengthy runtime of over two hours is often felt, with several scenes and monologues of dialogue that feel unnecessary. Despite this, I truly admire what the filmmakers achieved, especially given what I assume was a low budget. This includes the creative use of locations, the cast, and the gore effects.

Final Verdict: A Wild, Chaotic, and Fun Horror-Comedy Debut

Residence (2024) will be available at Monster Fest 2025!

Published: 15th September 2025

Written by: Peter Walkden

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