In a quiet New Zealand town, timid Lionel Cosgrove lives under the thumb of his domineering mother, Vera. Lionel’s life changes dramatically when he falls for the sweet and vibrant shopkeeper, Paquita, and the two begin a budding romance. Unbeknownst to them, Vera gets bitten by a Sumatran Rat-Monkey during a visit to the zoo. This bite infects her, causing her to gradually turn into a grotesque, zombie-like creature. Lionel desperately tries to keep his mother's condition a secret, but things start to unravel as Vera's infection begins to spread to other townsfolk, leading to increasingly horrifying and comical situations.

As the infection grows uncontrollable, Lionel is thrust into a nightmare, trying to protect Paquita and keep the undead hordes in check. The chaos escalates when Lionel hosts a dinner party. As Vera's condition takes a turn for the worse, the party descends into a gory, chaotic disaster, unveiling an all-out zombie apocalypse. While combating the ever-growing number of zombies, Lionel must come to grips with his own courage and resourcefulness, making choices that will determine the fate of everyone he cares about.