There sure are some confusing reviews on this one. I'm not sure if they were paid or what, but I read a review on a site I frequent and it was very positive. That prompted me to watch this movie although it hadn't really been on a list I had planned to review. Before I start, or receive the typical responses of I don't know a good movie when I see one, I did watch the first one and I thought it was pretty well done. I enjoyed the over the top violence and the cheesy story. In Dead Snow, it works (P.S. I also liked Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters).
That said, what a pile of garbage this was. I'm sorry, but this movie was clearly attempting to become a cult classic. I really hate when movies try to position themselves in this way. You will notice that all cult classics that are cult classics didn't become cult classics because they were trying to become cult classics. Example; Evil Dead. This movie is a favourite because although it wasn't a huge success, and it was made on a shoestring budget, it gained momentum over time for how revolutionary it was. There was nothing like that here this was pure rubbish.
I found the gore was purposely over the top as in it was meant to generate a shock for specific unnecessary aspects of each scene that were clearly thrown in solely for their shock value, and not as a part of the story.
I found many of the fight scenes to be way to drawn out and choreographed especially the fights between zombies. There were some unnecessary MMA type moves and holds that had no place here..lot's of repetition as well in the fight moves.
This movie was both in English and Norwegian which I thought hurt the film as the Norwegian actors (who are probably great actors in Norway and Norwegian) did not carry their English parts well and the chemistry between the English cast was at least partially ruined by the language barrier. Make the movie in either English or Norwegian. As a side, I felt this was another attempt to achieve cult status. It felt to me like the English characters could have been Norwegian which would have improved the story but instead they were in English to bring in the larger English speaking audience who may have missed the first movie, but watched and enjoyed Witch Hunters.
The only thing I kind of liked about the movie was Martin Starr. I have to say though, it felt like they went after him as he is already kind of a cult hero because of Freaks and Geeks and Silicon Valley. His character (and I'm talking across most of his work) was specifically the audience they were trying to target and so they brought him in to try to target them. He is by far the best part of this movie, but that isn't saying much.
If you love zombie movies .watch something else because this one is trying way too hard to be the cool kid.
Rating: 4/10
That said, what a pile of garbage this was. I'm sorry, but this movie was clearly attempting to become a cult classic. I really hate when movies try to position themselves in this way. You will notice that all cult classics that are cult classics didn't become cult classics because they were trying to become cult classics. Example; Evil Dead. This movie is a favourite because although it wasn't a huge success, and it was made on a shoestring budget, it gained momentum over time for how revolutionary it was. There was nothing like that here this was pure rubbish.
I found the gore was purposely over the top as in it was meant to generate a shock for specific unnecessary aspects of each scene that were clearly thrown in solely for their shock value, and not as a part of the story.
I found many of the fight scenes to be way to drawn out and choreographed especially the fights between zombies. There were some unnecessary MMA type moves and holds that had no place here..lot's of repetition as well in the fight moves.
This movie was both in English and Norwegian which I thought hurt the film as the Norwegian actors (who are probably great actors in Norway and Norwegian) did not carry their English parts well and the chemistry between the English cast was at least partially ruined by the language barrier. Make the movie in either English or Norwegian. As a side, I felt this was another attempt to achieve cult status. It felt to me like the English characters could have been Norwegian which would have improved the story but instead they were in English to bring in the larger English speaking audience who may have missed the first movie, but watched and enjoyed Witch Hunters.
The only thing I kind of liked about the movie was Martin Starr. I have to say though, it felt like they went after him as he is already kind of a cult hero because of Freaks and Geeks and Silicon Valley. His character (and I'm talking across most of his work) was specifically the audience they were trying to target and so they brought him in to try to target them. He is by far the best part of this movie, but that isn't saying much.
If you love zombie movies .watch something else because this one is trying way too hard to be the cool kid.
Rating: 4/10