Zero Day (2003)

"We are the Army of Two!" So begins the video diary of Andre (Andre Keuck) and Cal (Calvin Robertson), two best friends and alienated high school students who have meticulously planned a "big-ass mission" that will shock and terrify their community. They have officially declared war, stockpiled their weapons, and set the day now, "let the countdown begin." Make no mistake: Zero Day is not a "Blair Witch" stunt. With his uncanny unprofessional cast and unflinching intimacy, director Ben Coccio’s award-winning first feature is a disturbingly authentic and harrowing look at a tragedy as unthinkable as today’s headlines.

Don't eat the fish

I thought this film was a talky, irritating mess, and felt I'd get more insight suffering through actual security cam and home videos of the Columbine kids. What I appreciated about the similiar themed "Elephant" was the amount of information revealed about the characters through visuals alone. "Zero Day" may offer more gritty, awkward teenage realism, but "Elephant" was able to somewhat relay the disturbed driving spirit behind the acts of violence, something even a flawed film like "Life Before Her Eyes" managed to do. September 25, 2008

Not without faults, but a must see.

In this harsh reality of our existence, and this foul year of our Father 2008, we find the increasing hysteria around violence, school shootings, and teenagers carrying guns, not so much in the ghetto's and big cities of America, but in suburbia. The aftermath of events like that of Columbine and Virginia Tech echo only true emotions to the reality that we revolve ourselves around in and in that we find, 'Zero Day'

While the two main characters, Andre Kriegman and Calvin Gabriel, fitting like a glove to perhaps the days and months that prepared the real life Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, who themselves made home videos, are ever present in the film. The pure tenacity, and testicular fortitude the two have is beyond maniacal. The opening segment alone, of the two as youth's, with the stellar opening song, is enough to set you up for a roller coaster of a trip.

Zero Day delivers in a way you would only expect it to. There is no need to expect a dynamite show of method acting and the like. We, as in other films of it's genre, see the life and times of two troubled teens, building an arsenal of weapons and coming from left field without a trace of worry from friend or family alike. However we are lead to believe, by the perps themselves, that they are not the end product of Grand Theft Auto Marathon's until the early next morning, or by-products of shows like 24 or the like. They take full responsibilty for their actions and make it clear in their videos, that no one is to blame, and no one could have prevented this. I think that is a very important mechanism in the film. As much as we want to protect our children, in the end, they will do what they want to do, right even under our nose.

In the hey-dey of horrid first person, cam-shooting genres like 'Blair ' and the horrible-as-much-as-you-want-to-candycoat-it 'Cloverfield', the film is not shifty, jaded or nauseous in anyway. In fact the camcorder shooting is quite appealing and very personal, as it should be. If you really let yourself immerse into the movie, you feel as if you were with the two boys throughout the whole planning of the massacre. You have front row seats into their zero day plan, their march towards victory, their own personal vendetta towards the how the other half walks. Their own chiming in on the world to let everyone know, they too will be remembered.

People might come here, and say the movie brings a strong message to all, that is should be a guide or an aid to what schools should be prepared for. Well in all reality, it should make the bullies, the jocks, 'Johnny Football Hero' who gets away with everything and anything because he is the town's pride and joy, and that stuffing Mike the Chess Player in the toilet after gym can have dire consequences. Not to say what happens in this movie or at Columbine was warranted, but you never hear about the torment these kind of kids go through, getting called names that could demoralize a youth for life.

I wont give anything away, but if you want something better than the Van Sant pederastic feel to a film like the incessantly juvenile 'Elephant', and something less surreal then 'Bang, Bang, Your Dead,' perhaps Zero Day is a shining example that you dont have to go to NYU or USC film school to get into the hearts and minds of movie lovers who really appreciate art in the form of pure, raw, commando-style filmmaking. Kudos!

Directed by Ben Coccio

A MUST SEE! 3.5 Stars. March 29, 2008

Zero Day DVD

Excellent video a training to prevent or make others aware of this
As a form of entertainment, it is not designed for that, as it was set up in a diary format reliving the days prior to the shooting through the eyes of Harris and Klebold.

The movie is based of the actions of Harris and Klebold who were the gunmen in the Columbine Highschool shooting. The movie is an actual based presentation of the videos that were made by the suspects prior to that day. It does explain the amount of thought and action they put into this tragic event. They did there research! Makes you wonder how far they could have gone, and how much they could have accomplished had they put this effort towards something else.
This video deffinately teaches you allot.
It also let people know that it does not mean that the families of the suspects caused it or that it was a random event.
December 17, 2007

An eye opener!!

You want a look into a school shooters mind / life. Watch this movie. Its very interesting and scary to think these things happen all the time.
May 31, 2007

Gotta buy this

If you don't already own it, you know what's left for you to do...
This is a very subtle piece of art: you will easily relate to this movie's main two characters, think you're in their minds and can predict their behavior, until, well, until... Zero Day comes, and you'll be shocked beyond belief, dwelling on the fact that Andre or Cal could have been your brother, your cousin, your childhood friend; and yes, still, in the end, they actually do it... This is a movie for all the World to see. You don't need to have lived in the U.S. to feel connected; believe a french man who saw in Zero Day an authentic masterpiece. Enjoy the chef-d'oeuvre! February 28, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...