Yes, the virus has been released. The infection is spreading. And my hair is blonde again.
About two years ago I asked my followers on Facebook if they’d be interested in my doing a zombie film with The Asylum — A film that would include many nods to the videogame series “Resident Evil” and the character that brought me so many Facebook followers to begin with – Albert Wesker. The general reaction was “Fuck YEAH!”
So, it’s happening.
I first approached writer Brandon Trenz and writer/director Jacob Cooney if they liked the zombie genre (we were filming “Alpha House,” aka “Sorority Sex House” on Showtime.) They said “Fuck YEAH!” Turns out that’s their favorite genre and they, too, were “Resident Evil” fans. So I pitched The Asylum the idea of a zombie film that would wink at the RE fan base. They loved the idea and put it in motion.
They also loved the idea of the RE fanbase tuning into “Z Nation” that they gave me a nice guest star on that show that just aired last week [watch here]. In fact, the day my “Z Nation” episode aired was the day I started filming on “XP-573” (working title). It was the perfect Zombie storm… Zombnado? Never mind.
[UPDATE: the co-creator and show runner for “Z Nation” just tweeted “Ma and Pa will be back next season with little Lucy on the run.” Aw, baby! I mean, aw, zombie baby!]
The film stars heartthrob Joey Lawrence (“Melissa & Joey,” “Blossom”), the beautiful and badass Maryse Ouellet Mizanin (WWE Diva), and the rave twerker D.C. Douglas (I’d need “seven minutes” to list out my credits).
I am blonde in it. I have big plans for a virus. And my character name is Colonel Aiden Wexler.
Wink? Methinks so.
So, “Resident Evil” and Albert Wesker fans, stay tuned. Sending some zombies your way in 2016…
[UPDATE: Rumor has it the film may be called “Isle of The Dead.]
The Syfy original film Isle of the Dead (2016), starring D.C. Douglas, Maryse Mizanin, and Joey Lawrence, received mixed to negative reactions from both fans and critics.
Critical Response
On the aggregate site Moria Reviews, the film was rated ★★ (2 out of 5), described as a “regular B-budget variant on the zombie film,” though director Nick Lyon’s energy and some inventive ideas—such as semi-aware zombies—made it “passably watchable.”
Another reviewer noted the film’s modest ambition: despite being filmed in just 12 days, it was “a pretty effective little film.” The zombies were relentless and atmospheric, D.C. Douglas delivered a solid performance as the mad scientist, and Maryse Mizanin was commended for her action-oriented role.
Fan and Genre Reviewer Responses
On Letterboxd, fan reviews varied widely:
- One viewer gave it ★★½, saying it embraced its B-movie nature with “cheesy dialogue, over-the-top gore, and action sequences.”
- Another found it “actually a pretty decent zombie film,” praising Maryse’s performance and noting “this more than exceeded my expectations.”
- Yet others were harsher:
Just another boring zombie flick.
- A reviewer commented: “One of the better asylum productions I’ve seen. A visually decent movie with action and drama but the plot is idiotic at times.”
- Some were utterly negative: “Very strange… and a total waste of time.”
A horror blog sharply criticized the movie:
“Almost all of the military individuals were interchangeable… The CGI gore was intolerable… an utterly generic and atrocious film.”
Still, D.C. Douglas’s over-the-top scientist was a bright spot: “His manic scientist… deeply amusing… couldn’t save this movie.” Rated 4.5/10.
Overall Summary
In summary, *Isle of the Dead* (2016) drew largely lukewarm to negative reactions:
- Critics acknowledged the limitations of low-budget production but found occasional inventiveness or atmospheric effectiveness.
- Fans were split: some embraced its B-movie charm and cheered strong genre elements and performances; others criticized its plot coherence, CGI, and character development.
- Common praise centered on D.C. Douglas’s performance and the film’s energy despite budget constraints.
- Frequent criticism targeted its clichéd zombie tropes, weak CGI, and uneven execution.
Overall, it stands as a niche, polarizing piece—appealing to some horror-genre fans looking for campy undead fun, but failing to impress a broader critical or casual audience.
