Unfriended recently showed us how technology can be used to terrorize people, regardless of their Klout scores. But in this trailer for Cell, “a mysterious pulse” (no, not that one) is transmitted through mobile phones, turning their owners into violent, slack-jawed zombies that pursue John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. This most recently-wrapped Stephen King adaptation stars Cusack as Clay, a dad who’s trying to find his son among the mindless hordes that have suddenly taken over the world. Clay eventually forms a band of ragtag survivors that includes Tom (Jackson), who’s just the kind of devout, gun-toting guy everyone needs during a global catastrophe. It’s not your typical “make it through the night” zombie story, as these “phone-crazies” do possess a level of thinking beyond the “brraaaaiiinnns” imperative, and may represent the next stage of evolution.
The source material is laden with social commentary, but King’s zombie tale also has plenty of nuance—and since Cusack and Jackson look sufficiently badass in this trailer, Cell probably won’t just be an hour and a half of people offing themselves because they refuse to live in a world where you can never be truly offline.
Directed by Tod Williams (Paranormal Activity 2) and co-starring Stacy Keach and Orphan’s Isabelle Fuhrman, Cell will be released in theaters and on VOD on July 8.
[Note: Cell is being distributed by Saban Films which, like The A.V. Club, is owned by Univision Communications.]