In the quiet Arizona desert, three kids hear a strange noise that changes everything. That’s the mystery at the center of Verrado High School junior and filmmaker Maxx De La Cruz’s upcoming zombie short film– a student project that puts a creative twist on the zombie genre in a semi-dystopian world.

Making a short film hasn’t been easy, especially with limited time and money. “The hardest part about filming has been location and budgets,” De La Cruz said. “It’s really hard to do zombie makeup on 20 people, and costume design can be expensive to save money, he’s been creative with materials. “I just go to Goodwill, find a tattered brown jacket, and I’ll be fine,” he joked.

De La Cruz said the idea came from his love of zombie stories and the Arizona landscape. Zombie stories have been around for decades, often showing what happens when society collapses and people have to fight to survive. “I’ve always liked The Walking Dead and The Last Kids on Earth,” he said. “They inspired me to make my own version.”

There are many classic horror films and series, such as Night of the Living Dead and The Walking Dead, where zombies become a symbol of fear, chaos, and even hope. De La Cruz’s film adds a local twist to this by bringing the same apocalyptic energy to Arizona’s dry, open desert, which already feels a little eerie and isolated on its own.

His film isn’t just about surviving zombies; it’s also about friendship. “The message would definitely be to keep your friends tight,” De La Cruz explained. “If you lose a friend, nothing good will happen if you’re alone in a zombie apocalypse.”

Instead of hiring strangers, De La Cruz cast his friends as actors and crew members. “I saw the characters in my friends, even for background characters,” he said. Working with people he knows has made filming more fun and comfortable, even during long days in the desert.

For the zombie look, De La Cruz relies on simple, hands-on effects. “We’re using makeup and ripped thrifted clothes. Just paint and stuff like that,” he said. It is a smart, low-cost way to make his film look authentic without needing expensive equipment.

De La Cruz is also planning to make two versions of the film: one for school screenings and one uncensored version with more realistic language and action. “I’m making one for West Valley or any other school competition,” he said. “The other one will have swearing, shooting, weapons, and stuff like that.”

The story itself came from people De La Cruz used to know. “I took my interpretation of people I knew or used to know and ran with it,” he explained. “Then I made this whole virus mainly inspired by The Last Kids on Earth.”

Despite the challenges, De La Cruz has stayed passionate about the project. He’s learning about filmmaking, teamwork, and problem-solving as he goes.

When asked what advice he’d give to other students who want to make their own films, De La Cruz said, “Don’t rush it. Put effort into it and take your time.”

While he’s keeping the ending and big reveal a secret, De La Cruz promises that his zombie film will surprise people. It is a story about survival, friendship, and finding hope in a world that is falling apart. All of this is being created by a student with a vision and a camera in the Arizona desert.