Here is an efficient little Norwegian zombie movie with subtitles, a polished low budget feel, all the prerequisite zombie elements, and a surprise ending. Dead Snow has a tight thin plot that doesn't get in the way of all the gory action. The zombies are fast-moving, strong, and...(wait for it)...Nazis. While we eventually find out what motives the Nazi zombies—and it's not hunger for human flesh or brains—it remains unclear what force reanimates them (other than shiny yellow metal); although, there is some hint of supernatural interference. Whatever it is, these bloodthirsty cannibals are pissed and strong. If you can get past the subtitles, which you should (because dubbing sucks), then there's plenty of rip-roaring gore, humor, and some truly classic scenes awaiting you in Dead Snow.
Some subtitled films can be hard to follow (with all that annoying reading going on), especially if they have complicated plots and lots of dialog, so it helps that Dead Snow makes it easy for us by taking a simple approach to its storytelling. The film has an important backstory element, which we get from one of those spooky/loony characters who shows up unexpectedly in movies with the sole purpose of sitting in front of us and clearly and precisely spilling a tale—before being dispatched a short time later.
A different film would have had great fun showing us the messy origins of the Nazi zombies, but Dead Snow keeps its focus and instead uses the aforementioned character to relay the story of a small isolated Norwegian village during WWII that is inhabited and terrorized by a sadistic Nazi commandant and his soldiers. The horrors perpetrated by the Nazis generates much hate from the villagers, who endure several years of abuse. However, as the Third Reich collapses and the war comes to an end, the Nazi's grip on the village weakens, and the villagers revolt and attack their captors. The outnumbered Nazis flee into the snowy mountain wilderness taking with them the precious bounty of gold that they pilfered from the villagers.
The main story takes place in 'modern day', and it concerns a group of med students who take an alcohol and sex-induced winter break at a snowbound mountain cabin. Unbeknown to the group, one of the students, who planned to meet the others after skiing to the cabin, has disturbed a group of long dormant Nazi zombies by taking their gold and hiding it under the cabin floorboards (don't miss the opening, the dream sequence, and a few other minute plot points to pick this up). The group arrives at their destination and the partying begins (Twister anyone??). However, it isn't long before the Nazis zombies and their Commandant (with his impeccable accounting skill) arrive to reclaim their gold and participate in the games. The fun and gore follows as the students take inventive measures to defend themselves--including a using a machine gun mounted on a snow mobile.
The students seem to be making progress, but the Nazis keep popping up out of the snow. One-by-one the students are picked off as Dead Snow winds toward its surprise ending. Dead Snow is a good zombie film. It doesn't get too serious, has excellent frights and gory effects, a chilly location, and a subtle, balanced sense of humor, which at times is reminiscent of the Evil Dead films. Watch for the scene where one of the students takes unusually aggressive measures to counteract a zombie bite.
This is recommended viewing for fans and a great addition to the genre. It's currently in my collection and one of my Top 20 Zombie Films.
Some subtitled films can be hard to follow (with all that annoying reading going on), especially if they have complicated plots and lots of dialog, so it helps that Dead Snow makes it easy for us by taking a simple approach to its storytelling. The film has an important backstory element, which we get from one of those spooky/loony characters who shows up unexpectedly in movies with the sole purpose of sitting in front of us and clearly and precisely spilling a tale—before being dispatched a short time later.
A different film would have had great fun showing us the messy origins of the Nazi zombies, but Dead Snow keeps its focus and instead uses the aforementioned character to relay the story of a small isolated Norwegian village during WWII that is inhabited and terrorized by a sadistic Nazi commandant and his soldiers. The horrors perpetrated by the Nazis generates much hate from the villagers, who endure several years of abuse. However, as the Third Reich collapses and the war comes to an end, the Nazi's grip on the village weakens, and the villagers revolt and attack their captors. The outnumbered Nazis flee into the snowy mountain wilderness taking with them the precious bounty of gold that they pilfered from the villagers.
The main story takes place in 'modern day', and it concerns a group of med students who take an alcohol and sex-induced winter break at a snowbound mountain cabin. Unbeknown to the group, one of the students, who planned to meet the others after skiing to the cabin, has disturbed a group of long dormant Nazi zombies by taking their gold and hiding it under the cabin floorboards (don't miss the opening, the dream sequence, and a few other minute plot points to pick this up). The group arrives at their destination and the partying begins (Twister anyone??). However, it isn't long before the Nazis zombies and their Commandant (with his impeccable accounting skill) arrive to reclaim their gold and participate in the games. The fun and gore follows as the students take inventive measures to defend themselves--including a using a machine gun mounted on a snow mobile.
The students seem to be making progress, but the Nazis keep popping up out of the snow. One-by-one the students are picked off as Dead Snow winds toward its surprise ending. Dead Snow is a good zombie film. It doesn't get too serious, has excellent frights and gory effects, a chilly location, and a subtle, balanced sense of humor, which at times is reminiscent of the Evil Dead films. Watch for the scene where one of the students takes unusually aggressive measures to counteract a zombie bite.
This is recommended viewing for fans and a great addition to the genre. It's currently in my collection and one of my Top 20 Zombie Films.
No comments:
Post a Comment