Maggie

(2015)

Directed by Henry Hobson

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson

Rating: ******
              1/6

Maggie is a quite dreadful film,
But it didn’t have to be.
It had some very good performances
Along with a decent story.

Maggie is a teenage girl,
And Arnold is her dad.
They live in a future America
Where things have gone pretty bad.

There’s some nasty virus loose
That makes some people zombified.
It makes the flesh fall off their bones
And makes them cannibalize,

But the zombies are the minority.
They’re easily rounded up
And taken to internment camps,
Where they are injected with a drug.

This drug, very painfully,
Causes them to die.
It’s not a speedy process,
For it takes its sweet old time.

The zombies are still dangerous.
If you see one, be prepared
For fight or flight in the day or night.
You’ll certainly be scared.

Maggie is infected.
She’s starting to get sick.
She knows it’s only a matter of time,
And hopes when the time comes, it’s quick.

Arnold watches out for her,
But knows she can’t be saved.
He needs to monitor her behaviour,
So society can be safe.

That society includes his town,
A small one meant for farmers.
He owns a lot of acres
And has a history as a farmer.

His wife is also with them,
But she’s afraid they’re stuck.
She’s played very proficiently
By the actress from Nip/Tuck.

She’s afraid of Maggie,
Though she still loves her wholly.
She doesn’t always show this
Because she treats her somewhat coldly.

She and her husband watch their daughter
For signs she’s getting worse.
They know that it’s inevitable.
Her disease is like a curse.

In the closing sequence, Maggie
Tries to silently creep
Towards her unarmed father,
So she can eat him in his sleep.

Her eyes glaze over.  She salivates.
She hyperventilates,
But she pulls herself away from him
Before it gets too late.

Now both Arnie and Maggie know
That she will have to die.
While Arnie loads his rifle,
Maggie takes her life.

It’s a sweet and tragic ending,
But I admire Maggie more
Because she chose to die
Instead of become a murderer.

I do like the story, but I can’t recommend
This movie to anyone, really.
Is directed so badly it will put you to sleep.
You’ll hardly get through it, surely.

It’s depressing and predictable,
But I’d almost forgive these two points
Were a whole film not so boring.
I’m giving only one point.