Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
A bunch of crooked cops raid a ruined building located in an impoverished suburb of Paris, determined to furiously avenge the death of one of them, murdered by the ruthless criminal gang hidden on top of the dark labyrinth that will become a deathly trap when the living, unexpectedly turned into the undead by a mysterious plague, begin to devour the world.
The Horde is a gritty French zombie-action hybrid that earns points for its raw, kinetic energy and the interesting premise of forcing cops and criminals into a reluctant alliance. The setting in a crumbling Parisian tower block gives it some geographic distinctiveness, and there are standout moments of brutal, visceral action. However, the plot is thin and formulaic once the zombie outbreak begins, leaning heavily on genre conventions with little narrative depth or character development. The acting is serviceable and energetic if uneven. Cinematography captures the claustrophobic, grimy atmosphere effectively. As a zombie film it doesn't reinvent the wheel but has enough local flavor and relentless pace to stand somewhat apart from generic entries. The ending is bleak but feels abrupt and unsatisfying, failing to deliver meaningful resolution for its characters.