If you’ve ever walked out of Comic-Con clutching a plastic bag of overpriced merchandise and wondering whether that samurai sword set you almost bought would actually be useful in a zombie apocalypse, ZombieCON Vol. 1 has your answer. The film wastes no time in reminding us that, yes, your nerdy impulses can save your life – and also that you’ll regret skipping that Elvin replica sword set (Sword of Thranduil, Rivendell Elf Helm with Stand, and Mirkwood Infantry Sword with Display) when the undead are pounding at your door.
Directed by Kyle Valle, ZombieCON Vol. 1 drops us into a zombie-infested Los Angeles where cosplay isn’t just for fun anymore – it’s survival gear. Rocket (Manny Luke), Punkie (Punkie Johnson), Javier (Christian Casillas), and Claire (Erin Áine) are four best friends who just want to do what they love: cosplay together as their favorite heroes. But in the film’s opening act, a fated encounter unleashes an apocalypse that turns every jerk, hater, and close-minded troll into flesh-eating zombies. And suddenly, fandom meets fate in a blood-splattered adventure where friendship, creativity, and con-nerd resourcefulness are the only weapons that matter.
Punkie Johnson as Punkie
The film’s standout performance comes from SNL’s Punkie Johnson, who plays a character fittingly named Punkie. According to Valle, the decision to use Johnson’s real name was both deliberate and budget-friendly. It also plays into the meta quality of the film with Punkie bringing her real-life personality (and comedic timing) to the role. There’s a swagger, a wink, and an undeniable Lena Waithe, Ready Player One vibe that energizes every scene.
It’s rare to see a character in a B-horror flick that feels like someone you’d actually want in your bunker during an apocalypse. Punkie’s mix of humor and grit glues the group together, grounding the absurdity of fighting zombies with cosplay weapons into something that feels authentic. She’s the friend who will roast you, fight beside you, and grab the last slice of pizza all in the same breath.
The Wish that Changed Everything
While Punkie provides the energy, Erin Áine delivers the catalyst. As Claire, she’s the one who accidentally triggers the apocalypse by wishing every asshole would just turn into a zombie. And Áine doesn’t just play Claire, she also co-wrote the film alongside Valle (story by) and Manny Luke (writer). That dual role shows: Claire is more than just a plot device. She’s the chaotic, impulsive friend we all love, the one who makes terrible decisions but still manages to anchor the story. It’s a layered performance, balancing humor, horror, and just enough humanity to keep us invested in the chaos she causes.
The Couch is a Character
It would be a crime not to mention the couch. Yes, the couch. Every great B-movie has that one prop that becomes a character in its own right, and here it’s a beat-up thrift store sofa that gets absolutely wrecked. Stabbed, covered in fake blood, and tossed around like it’s auditioning for WWE: Zombie Edition, this couch lives a better life on screen than it ever would’ve in someone’s dusty garage. Couch, thank you for your service.
Not Your Average Zombies
By now, we’ve seen every iteration of zombies imaginable – slow walkers, fast runners, rage-infected hybrids. So when a low-budget indie promises a “new take,” it’s normal to be skeptical. But ZombieCON pulls it off. These aren’t your average brain-munching drones – they’re stronger, faster, and require significantly more effort to kill. Watching our cosplay heroes struggle against these supercharged undead adds real tension, while also cranking up the comedy. Nothing says “low-budget genius” like watching a fake foam sword actually put up a fight.
And that’s part of the film’s charm. It knows the genre is saturated, but instead of reinventing the wheel, it leans into what fans love about zombies: the spectacle of survival against impossible odds. By raising the difficulty level, Valle gives every battle weight, while still letting the blood and guts fly in gloriously campy fashion.
A Proud B-Movie
Let’s be clear: this is a B-movie, proudly and unapologetically. The budget is low, the effects are scrappy, and the plot is delightfully absurd. But that’s exactly what makes it work. Like Evil Dead (1981), Dead Alive (1992), or Tromeo and Juliet (1996), ZombieCON embraces its limitations and turns them into strengths. You don’t come here for polished CGI; you come here for creativity, passion, and the kind of fun that only happens when filmmakers and actors are all-in on the madness.
And that passion shows. Every frame of ZombieCON screams love letter to fandom. From the costumes to the weapons to the pizza (zombie-gunked as it may be), it’s a celebration of con culture, the joy of nerds gathering, dressing up, and imagining themselves as heroes. Except this time, they actually have to be.
What makes ZombieCON resonate beyond the gore and cosplay is its heart. Underneath the splatter and the silliness, it’s a story about friendship, self-sacrifice, and community. These aren’t superheroes or soldiers; they’re fans. Ordinary people who spend weekends at conventions are suddenly called to live out the fantasies they’ve rehearsed in costume. It’s both a parody and an homage, poking fun at nerd culture while honoring the resilience and creativity at its core.
In a media landscape where “low budget” often equals disposable, ZombieCON Vol. 1 reminds us why B-movies endure: because they speak directly to the fans who love them. They’re scrappy, messy, and often more authentic than studio blockbusters.
For me, ZombieCON Vol. 1 is A B-movie with an A+ heart, destined to live forever in the undead pantheon of con nerd favorites.
