Film Review: The Girl With All the Gifts

I read the novel The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey about two years ago now and it’s definitely a book that has stuck with me. Excellent writing, lots of tension, great characters, and a unique twist on the zombie genre. If you’ve followed my blog for a while now, you know I love all things zombie, so to find such a well-written addition to the genre was great.

Understandably, I had high expectations for the film adaptation, especially after seeing some glowing reviews from the likes of Empire.  Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed!

I dragged my boyfriend along to see the film and, strangely, we had an entire screen to ourselves. This was good in the sense that no one would be talking or texting, but bad in the sense that when Mark left to go to the loo, I was sat in a big screen watching a zombie movie all by myself with surround sound. Needless to say, it was creepy.

Anyway, onto the film itself:

The film itself is very, very true to the book. A couple of scenes were dropped, along with the concept of the “Junkers”, but the vast majority of the major plot points are pretty much identical, which was amazing.

For those of you who don’t know, The Girl With All the Gifts tells the story of Melanie (Sennia Nanua), a young girl kept in an army base along with other children. Each day, she is strapped into a wheelchair by guards who treat her like she’s dangerous and taken to a classroom for lessons from the kind Miss Justineau (Gemma Arteton). That’s when we discover that, outside the army base, the world has been ravaged by a zombie virus, specifically a fungal virus that turns people into “Hungries”. Melanie and her fellow kids in the classroom are Hungries, but they’re different. They aren’t mindless and feral, but instead act like any other average human child. I won’t say why, but be prepared for a very unique zombie story.

And then, one day, it all goes wrong and the army base must be evacuated. Only a handful escape, including Melanie, Miss Justineau, Sergeant Parks (Paddy Considine), Dr Caldwell (Glenn Close) and a couple of soldiers. Will they make it to safety? Can the calculating Dr Caldwell develop a cure? You’ll have to wait and see.

The heart of the story is Melanie. A kind and courageous girl, you can’t help but become deeply attached to her whilst almost slightly fearing her, and I thought Sennia Nanua did an excellent job of portraying the complexities of Melanie on the big screen. Interestingly, in the novel Melanie is white and Miss Justineau is black, but it’s been reversed in the film. I think it’s great that a young black girl has been given such a big part as the main protagonist here, and she was definitely the best actress to play Melanie.

Aside from that one change, I thought all the characters were very true to the book in terms of personality. Helen Justineau’s kindness and protectiveness, Sergeant Parks’ bravado hiding a softer interior, Dr Caldwell’s determination, Private Gallagher’s innocence. It really is a very true adaptation, keeping the core values of the book and much of the plot.

However, whilst this is a film about zombies, it is truly a film about humanity. Some of the best zombie films and books are the ones that look at humanity, not just the blood and gore. I can’t explain too much without revealing the ending, but there are some huge moral dilemmas in The Girl With All the Gifts. Me and Mark had a long conversation about it all afterwards, with differing opinions on morality. It’s definitely a bittersweet story.

The film has also clearly taken inspiration from Danny Boyle’s amazing 28 Days Later so, if you enjoyed that, you should enjoy this. I don’t think it’s as scary as 28 Days Later (Cillian Murphy in the church? The infected at the window? Terrifying), or even as scary as the novel, but it’s not trying to terrify you with jump scares; it’s about so much more than that. It’s about terrifying you with the prospect of the end of humanity.

In addition, I have to give a special shout out to the score for this film. It’s amazing. So creepy and tense and eerie, it was one of the best scores I’ve heard in a long while for a horror film. EDIT: (See link at the bottom to listen to the main theme).

However, there were a few slight negatives to the adaptation. One was that I think the ending was a little rushed. It needed more explanation. This was where me and Mark argued a little as the climax missed out some key aspects from the book and I had to explain it fully to him to make him understand the reasoning behind some of the actions in the finale. There were also a few scenes from the novel I would have liked to have seen included, but there was probably issues with running time. Lastly, whilst most of the big scenes did make it to the screen, some had been changed, and I would have liked them to be the same as the book because I think it would have had more of an impact. But hey, that’s just me being a picky reader.

Overall though, this was an excellent adaptation of the book and I was thoroughly impressed. Excellent acting, very true to the novel and a great score, I couldn’t have asked for much more. I definitely recommend both the book and the film.

Have you read The Girl With All the Gifts? Or seen the film? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

EDIT: I just managed to find the main theme from the composer on Soundcloud, so check it out here.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten ALL TIME Favourite Books of the Sci-Fi Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s theme is Top Ten ALL TIME Favourite Books of X Genre, and I have chosen Sci-Fi because it’s such a broad genre. From space opera to the apocalypse to dystopia, Sci-Fi encompasses so many different genres and that’s what I love about it. It can be funny, harrowing, epic or terrifying, there’s just so much scope.

NB, where I list the genres of the novels below and write ‘Sci-Fi’, it means it’s set in space. If it doesn’t list ‘Sci-Fi’, then it’s not set in space.

So, in no particular order, let’s begin:

The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin, Post-Apocalyptic / Science Fantasy / Horror: I’m currently on the final book of this series and I’m so sad it’s almost over for me. This series has been with me for years and I’ve loved it. It’s extremely well written with a huge cast of characters and such a detailed plot. Also, Stephen King loves it. Need I say more?

The Forest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan, Post-Apocalyptic / Zombie Outbreak / Young Adult: This is a really harrowing and unique series, fraught with emotion and tension. These books had my heart racing so often that I thought I might keel over before finishing it. Thankfully, I’m still here to tell the tale.

Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown, Sci-Fi / Dystopian / Young Adult: I’ve only read the first two books in this series and I’m waiting to get my hands on Morning Star but, so far, this trilogy has been exceptional. Great characters, a complex plot and amazing world-building.

Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, Science Fantasy / Horror: This is one of those novels that flits between science and the fantastical which I really loved. The first novel is amazing, and the others great too (I devoured them all one after the other, they were that good I didn’t want to read anything else) but the first novel was definitely the best in the way it was written. These books are terrifying and confusing, in a good way.

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff, Sci-Fi / Young Adult: Illuminae was just too good. I don’t know how Kaufman and Kristoff pulled it off. This series had me laughing one moment and sobbing the next. It was ruthless and hopeful, a truly great, truly terrifying, Sci-Fi novel that would make such an amazing film. (But only if Ridley Scott did it, please).

Pure trilogy by Julianna Baggott, Post-Apocalyptic / Young Adult: I’ve raved about this series many a time on this blog because it deserves so much more recognition than it actually gets. The characters and writing in this book are amazing, with El Capitan being one of my favourite characters I’ve ever come across; I have such a soft spot for all of the characters in this series. It’s also a truly unique idea and these books don’t pull any punches. Seriously, read them.

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey, Post-Apocalyptic / Zombie Outbreak: This book has been made into a film which is being released this month! However, just in case the film is terrible, read the book first. Melanie is a brilliant character, full of hope, and the writing again is great.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, Post-Apocalyptic / Zombie Outbreak / Romance (but good romance): This was such a good book, so philosophical and funny and poignant. As I’ve said before, one of my favourite passages ever written is in this book. I’d point it out, but it’s basically a major spoiler. However, the sequel to this novel is out the beginning of next year and I cannot wait.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Science Fantasy / Time-Travel: David Mitchell is one of my favourite authors and this is my favourite book of his. It’s another one that mixes science with the fantastical, and I love David Mitchell’s style. His writing is great, always funny but also emotional, and he weaves the threads of different people’s lives together in a complex, but ultimately satisfying, way. I don’t know how he does it, but it’s impossible not to become emotionally invested in his characters, even when they aren’t that nice. This book made me laugh and cry.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Dystopian / Speculative Fiction: Atwood is the queen of dystopian and speculative fiction. My teacher gave me a tattered copy of this book to read when I was in high school as she thought it would be something I’d like, and this is what kick-started my love for these kinds of genres. Beautifully written, deeply feminist, and with a unique world, I will never get bored of this book.

What are some of your favourite Sci-Fi novels? Do you agree with any of my picks? I could go on, to be honest, but it’s Top Ten Tuesday, not Top 100 Tuesday. Anyway, let me know in the comments below!

The Willoughby Book Club Unboxing #2

So, another month, another package from The Willoughby Book Club! This is my second package in my three month membership and, once again, it was lovingly wrapped.

For anyone who doesn’t know, The Willoughby Book Club is a UK based book subscription service. Shipping is free to anywhere in the UK, but they do ship internationally for a fee, of course. They have a range of subscriptions, from Children’s to Young Adult to Historical to Non-Fiction. I have the Bespoke subscription, whereby you tell them what genres and authors you like best and they choose books based on your preferences. So far, they haven’t disappointed.

Last month, I got Vivian Versus the Apocalypse which I’m excited to read. This month, I didn’t get any freebies, but in terms of books I got I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

 

I’ve seen the film adaptation with Will Smith and I thought it was great but, for some reason, I just never got round to reading the novel! I’m pretty excited to finally give it a go as it’s the book that inspired a lot of the zombie virus and vampire works in popular culture today. And, if you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I like zombies!

Also, as a side note, that cover is pretty freaky.

If you want to check out The Willoughby Book Club, you can find them here. I really do recommend them. They have so many different subscriptions and are great at tailoring books to your preferences. That way, you know you’re going to get a book you’ll like. Also, if they happen to send you a book you already have (which only happens to 1% of customers), they’ll send you a replacement completely free and let you keep the duplicate book so you can give it to a friend.

Are you a The Willoughby Book Club subscriber? Do you subscribe to any other book subscription services? Let me know in the comments below!

 

A Novel Round-Up: My Favourite Zombie Novels

I used to be terrified of zombies when I was little. I was a huge fan of Scooby-Doo but I had this one film called Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and it traumatised me; I had nightmares for weeks.

But now that I’m older, my feelings towards zombies have changed a lot. They still freak me out, but it’s that kind of relationship where something terrifies you but you really enjoy it. I even gave up on The Walking Dead because there were too many humans and not enough zombies (although I might go back to it once university is over).

As you can guess, I’ve read a fair few zombie novels and watched a fair few zombie films. So, in no particular order, here is the promised list of my favourite zombie books:

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.

When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite. But they don’t laugh.

Melanie is a very special girl.

Why I loved it: I didn’t manage to get this book in the photo (it’s back at my university house and I’m at my family home), but it’s one I couldn’t leave out of this list. Where to begin? For starters, I always love anything apocalyptic that’s set in the UK. I’m so bored of almost every post-apocalypse or dystopia novel being set in the US. I may be biased because I’m English, but I think the UK as a setting has something really gritty about it that the US doesn’t have.

Anyway, this book was captivating from start to finish. A zombie plague, caused by some kind of spore, has taken over the UK. A remote army compound researches infected children who still have control of their faculties. I won’t summarise anymore because I think anyone who hasn’t read this book should do so immediately. The writing is haunting, the plot captivating, and the characters full of life (or virus, take your pick). Even if you aren’t into zombies, pick up this book, because it’s by no means a cliche addition to the genre. A film adaptation is also being made that was actually filmed in Birmingham! My sister turned up to work one day to find her street had been turned into an apocalypse-lover’s dream. Hopefully they do the book justice.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy by Carrie Ryan

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (just the first one, so no spoilers for the other two): 

In Mary’s world there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future – between the one she loves and the one who loves her.

And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Why I loved it: I remember I got the first book in this YA series quite a few Christmas’s ago and I was so excited about it I kept creeping into my parents room and just looking at it. At the time, I had no idea it was about zombies (the blurb doesn’t give much away) but this was what started my zombie obsession. The first book is so poetic and so tense. I think it’s actually time for a re-read. The plot is unique and heartfelt, and Ryan really manages to keep the novels toeing the line between emotion and action.

However, I only gave the series 4/5 because the magic goes a little bit in the final book. We’re out of the eerie isolation of Mary’s world so the mystery fades slightly, but the story is still engrossing and there’s an extremely tense scene of a main character fleeing from a horde.

The first book is also finally being made into a film with Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams as Mary. She’s not who I envisaged as Mary but she’s a good actress and I’m excited to see what she does with the character.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: ‘R’ is a zombie. He has no name, no memories, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows – warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can’t understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won’t be changed without a fight…

Why I loved it: Yet another zombie book I got for Christmas and devoured like there was no tomorrow. This book is so thoughtful and philosophic for a zombie novel, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any gripping action. One thing I loved about this book was the character of Perry, whose brain R keeps and takes occasional bites from, and whose voice subsequently penetrates R’s mind. The dynamic between these two was beautiful and Perry has one of the best, heart-wrenching monologues towards the end of the book that I love to go back to and relive. I was really sad that they left this out of the film, but it still captured the sensitive humour of the novel. The long awaited sequel is coming soon and I am so so so excited.

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: God is a slick god. Temple knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe . . .

Older than her years and completely alone, Temple is just trying to live one day at a time in a post-apocalyptic world, where the undead roam endlessly, and the remnant of mankind who have survived, at times, seem to retain little humanity themselves.

This is the world she was born into. Temple has known nothing else. Her journey takes her to far-flung places, to people struggling to maintain some semblance of civilization – and to those who have created a new world order for themselves.

When she comes across the helpless Maury, she attempts to set one thing right, if she can just get him back to his family in Texas then maybe it will bring redemption for some of the terrible things she’s done in her past. Because Temple has had to fight to survive, has done things that she’s not proud of and, along the road, she’s made enemies.

Now one vengeful man is determined that, in a world gone mad, killing her is the one thing that makes sense . . .

Why I loved it: I read this book quite a while ago but it’s definitely one that has stuck with me. Temple is such a strong protagonist and her young age makes her all the stronger. I loved her story and found it a really refreshing addition to the genre. It’s not about curing the plague and saving the world, but just getting on with it. The story is emotionally fraught, dark and tender. I only discovered recently that there was actually a sequel published so I’m excited to buy that sometime soon.

Have any favourite zombie novels I haven’t suggested? Let me know in the comments!