Night of the Zoopocalypse

In the late eighties and early nineties, there were two names in horror that always made you want to check out the latest movies based on their work: Stephen King and Clive Barker. At the time, their names seemed to be attached to anything good coming out of the horror genre. Of course, those weren’t the only great horror films of the era, but King and Barker’s works carried significant weight. King still has multiple movies released each year, with some of the older films even getting remade. As for Barker, he has been a little quieter, but seeing his name—especially on an animated movie—color me intrigued.

After a long day at the zoo, the place is shutting down, and the animals are settling in for the night. That includes Gracie (Gabbi Kosidis), a wolf who has just finished listening to a speech from her grandmother about the importance of “the pack”. The darkness of the night is soon disrupted by a glowing object falling from the sky, crashing into a barn that houses the bunnies and chicks. One curious bunny (Bryn McAuley) eats the mysterious object—someone should have told this bunny not to put everything in its mouth, especially glowing objects from space. Strange things begin to happen in the barn, and Gracie catches a glimpse before she is locked in a cage in the vet building for wandering out of her enclosure. There, she meets a few other animals, including Xavier (Pierre Simpson), a movie-loving lemur, and Dan (David Harbour), a mountain lion. Soon, all the animals start turning “zombie-like” and want to convert Gracie and her new companions—including a monkey named Felix (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee)—into one of them.

Written by Steven Hoban and James Kee, Night of the Zoopocalypse has all the cuteness and humor of a typical animated movie but also serves another purpose. It acts as a gateway into horror, especially for kids who already lean toward spooky things. Parents need not worry, though, as the film remains bright, colorful, and whimsical—a perfect combination of heartfelt, kid-friendly humor and thrilling moments that will surely get the adrenaline going. Hoban and Kee’s script is filled with classic horror movie references and great ideas, all moving at a perfect pace, making this a fun ride from beginning to end.

Night of the Zoopocalypse truly is a movie for all ages. Kids will love the visuals and adventure, while parents will enjoy the clever horror references. The creature designs are terrifically bizarre, appearing more jelly-like and slicker than their normal animal forms. The film includes just the right amount of body horror—not too much to scare younger audiences but enough to make an impact. Fortunately, the zoo has plenty of creatures to showcase this transformation.

What I love most is how the filmmakers balance the tension from the horror elements with humor, ensuring that even the scariest moments remain fun. All in all, Night of the Zoopocalypse is a truly enjoyable and engaging experience that will entertain everyone who watches it. Hopefully, it paves the way for more unique and exciting films like this in the future.