Starring Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Paddy Considine, and Sennia Nanua as Melanie, The Girl With All The Gifts is based on a novel of the same name written by science-fiction author Mike Carey, which was in turn adapted form his own short story entitled "Iphigenia in Aulis." He wrote the screenplay concurrently with a novel version, but the book was released first in 2014. As with many zombie movies, the story takes place in a world ravaged by a viral disease that turns people into flesh-eating mindless creatures. In this case, the condition is caused by a parasitic fungus transmitted through bodily fluids, with the zombies colloquially known as "hungries." Along with hungries, there are also hybrid human-zombies, children who were infected in the womb. This second generation has an appetite for flesh, but is still able to think, learn, and grow.
Nanua's Melanie is one of these children. She lives with others like her at an army base where she and her cohort are guarded by soldiers like Sergeant Eddie Parks (Considine), experimented on by Dr. Caroline Caldwell (Close), and taught values and important life skills by Helen Justineau (Arterton). Melanie spends the film learning empathy and grappling with her role — and that of her species — in the world that remains after the disease. The Girl With All The Gifts received great reviews, and currently holds an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Brian Tallerico from Roger Ebert explained the contemplative and inventive nature of the movie, saying, "just as Melanie marks something altogether new in this world—a zombie with a conscience — the film about her feels inspired by what came before but also good enough to inspire those that come after."
Check it out on HBO Max now.
