Zero Day poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Andre Keuck, Calvin Robertson, Rachel Benichak, Chris Coccio, Johanne Keuck ... see more see more... , Gerhard Keuck , Pam Robertson , Steven Robertson , Christopher Coccio , David Futernick , Samantha Philips , Steve Robertson

Andre (Andre Keuck) and Cal (Calvin Robertson) seem like fairly ordinary high school students. Andre is a quiet loner, and he's a bit obsessed with munitions. Cal, Andre's only friend, is slightly mor... read more read more...e adept socially. He even has a friend, Rachel (Rachel Benichak), who's a girl. But Andre and Cal have big plans. They're going to be famous one day. And they're going to teach what they see as a valuable lesson to everyone at their hated high school. Zero Day, the feature debut of Benjamin Coccio, is presented as a collection of videotaped moments leading up to Cal and Andre's planned murderous assault on their school. Cal and Andre are creating a video diary of sorts, which they keep in a safe deposit box, to be opened after their horrific deed is done. The film follows Andre and Cal as they explain their plan -- both the logistics of it and, to some extent, the motivations behind it -- and prepare for their violent act. In the interest of verisimilitude, the lead actors' families play themselves, and cast members, for the most part, were not told the larger context of their roles. Zero Day was a controversial hit on the festival circuit before being picked up for distribution. It won Best Feature at the 2003 Slamdunk Film Festival and the Audience Award at the 2003 Rhode Island International Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

3,278 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

41 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Ben Coccio

Release Date: September 5, 2003

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: April 5, 2005

Stats: 263 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (263)

  • blkbomb
    July 17, 2011
    blkbomb
    Andre: Ready?
    Calvin: Aim...

    While Zero Day isn't a pleasant film, it is a very well made film. It's extremely realistic in every way and is based off of the Columbine shootings. The two kids Andre and Cal are troubled and finally break and devise a plan that they call Zero Day... read more. The two actors, Andre Keuck and Calvin Robertson are very believable in their roles.

    The buildup to Zero Day is made with patience and is as important as the events at the end. We learn how they will execute their plan, we see them around their parents, and we see how they interact with each other. They talk like they are in the military; even calling themselves The Army of Two and saying everything they do is a mission.

    The ending is incredibly well-done and ultra-realistic. It's shocking, chilling, haunting, and disturbing. This kind of stuff has happened before and the way the filmmaker tackled the ending was respectful. He didn't show too much, but just enough. This movie really does deserve to be taken seriously and to be seen by more people.
  • creepfreak
    March 10, 2010
    creepfreak
    Shockingly, ultra realistic take on the Columbine-like shootings. A harrowing, raw and frightening experience. This is a must see!
  • sharonfreako
    March 9, 2012
    sharonfreako
    One of my favourite movies of all time, inspired by "the basement tapes" yet to be released made by the victims of the Columbine Tragedy. Paired with the same low grade camera style of the tapes. The ending is highly engaging, but the entire movie is thought provoking.
  • English47
    February 24, 2012
    English47
    Good acting and found footage storyline that chronicles the events preceding "Zero Day"... Obviously inspired by Columbine, but still just as shocking and disturbingly interesting.
  • alexlovesgerard
    June 4, 2009
    alexlovesgerard
    'Zero Day' is everyone's worst nightmare. Two kids have a plan. No one but them knows what they are doing. The performances are superb, coming from rising stars, in a horrific tale based on the tragic Columbine massacre.
  • baldi100
    February 27, 2007
    baldi100
    Rarely can a filmmaker get away with such minimalist production in a narrative setting. This is one of those instances. A truly terrifying and disturbing film.
  • standupandfight
    January 29, 2007
    standupandfight
    I appreciate when documentaries take on the more gritty paths, and in contrast to the more cinematic Elephant etc, they're definitely effective doing that with Zero Day.
  • JesusZombie
    January 19, 2007
    JesusZombie
    Really well done low budget movie. I brought it in to work and showed the end video camera footage scene to a guy and tricked him into thinking it was the real thing. Thats how good it is.

View All Zero Day Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert Denerstein
May 28, 2004
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

My reaction to Zero Day closely mirrored my reaction to Gus Van Sant's Elephant. Neither film tries to exploit tragedy, but I'm not sure either succeeds in telling us much we don't already know.

John Monaghan
May 21, 2004
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press

Murky. Full Review

Eric Harrison
January 22, 2004
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

A pointless and tiresome exercise. Full Review

Gary Dowell
January 22, 2004
Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News

Mr. Coccio's conclusions -- or lack thereof -- may seem a little pat at times, but as a pseudo-case study of adolescent ego and aimless nihilism channeled into a fit of violence, it's like a bucket of... Full Review

Jay Boyar
January 9, 2004
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Small, often-riveting movie. Full Review

Walter V. Addiego
December 5, 2003
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

Insidious and haunting. Full Review

Ty Burr
December 5, 2003
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

There are images in Zero Day that linger and gnaw. Full Review

Glenn Lovell
December 4, 2003
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

As a promised 'wake-up call,' it's disturbingly sleep-inducing.

Curt Fields
October 24, 2003
Curt Fields, Washington Post

Will chill you to your core.

Ann Hornaday
October 24, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Can't help but resonate with a ripped- from-the- headlines topicality.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Duck - Carbine High Massacre
    Duck - Carbine High Massacre (57%)
  • Bang Bang You're Dead
    Bang Bang You're Dead (100%)
  • Elephant
    Elephant (62%)

More Movies like Zero Day

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Zero Day : Watch Free on TV

Zero Day Trivia

  • Which movie has the tagline: " Two kids. One school " ?  Answer »
  • Which actor connects these two movies: Sin City (05) & Day Zero (07)  Answer »
  • Hackers-- How many computers did 'Zero Cool' hack into in one day, when he was only 11 years old?  Answer »
  • "I don't know what your generation's fascination is with documenting your every thought... but I can assure you, they're not all diamonds. "Roman is having an OK day, and bought a Coke Zero at the gas station. Raise the roof." Who gives a rat's ass?" What film?  Answer »
More Zero Day Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Zero Day. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Zero Day to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?